Epi Volcano

Updated: Aug 29, 2025 03:11 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcanoes

Vanuatu, -16.68°S / 168.37°E

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Summit height: 833 m / 2,733 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 3 Apr 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

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Typical eruption style: unspecified
Epi volcano eruptions: 2004

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Background

A large caldera, with submarine post-caldera cones active in historical time, lies off the eastern coast of Epi Island. Epi Island itself, located slightly west of the main New Hebrides volcanic arc, largely consists of two Quaternary volcanoes, Mount Allombei on the west and Pomare (Tavani Kutali) on the east. Tavani Ruro, which forms an elongated eastern extension of Epi Island across a narrow isthmus, is related to Kuwae caldera to the east. Pomare volcano is the highest point on the island and has three well-preserved subsidiary cones to the east with youthful summit craters. Pomare volcano is truncated on its eastern side by the largely submarine East Epi caldera, which has been the source of all historical eruptions. Three small submarine basaltic and dacitic cones, known as Epi A, Epi B, and Epi C, are located along the northern rim of the breached caldera. Ephemeral islands were formed during eruptions in 1920 and 1953, and the summit of the shallowest cone, Epi B, was at 34 m below sea level at the time of a 2001 survey.
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Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Epi Volcano Photos

The Chelona lava dome and the gulf of Epidavros in Greece (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Dead wood and a poison catepillar in the crater of Papadayan volcano (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Poison catepillar in the Papadayan crater (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

"Lava fountains" are near-continuous gas bubbles escaping from the lava lake: they are the motor of the lake, transporting heat energy from the magma chamber to the surfa...

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Epi volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Epi has had at least 9 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. Additionally, there are 6 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Epi volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Epi volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Epi can be found on the news page of Epi volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2023 Jan 31 - Feb 23	Historical obs./docs.	1
2023 Jan 31 (eruption 2023 Jan 31 - Feb 23)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	0			Info
2023 Jan 31: Reference #13678: The East Epi group, consisting of multiple submarine cones within a postulated caldera, lies off the eastern coast of Epi Island in Vanuatu (figure 6). Three cones (Epi A, B, and C) are located 4-10 km NNE from the Epi Island, with additional smaller cones south of Epi B (figure 7). Ephemeral islands were formed during eruptions in 1920 and 1953. Explosive activity was reported in 1958 and 1960, discolored water was often seen during 1971-1974 and 1988, a new vent was detected in 1979, and explosive activity occurred in February 1999, March 2002, and February 2004. A March 2004 bathymetric survey revealed that Epi B was about 300 m tall with a diameter of about 1.8 km at the base; the summit crater was about 150 m in diameter, the crater floor was at a depth of 90 m, and the highest point was on the NW rim of the summit crater, at a depth of 34 m. This report covers a new eruption during January through February 2023 that was characterized by phreatic explosions, a growing cone, and ash emissions. Information primarily comes from the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD). According to the Wellington VAAC, a low-level ash and sulfur dioxide plume was identified in satellite data at 0730 on 31 January 2023. VMGD reported that residents saw gas-and-steam emissions at the ocean’s surface around 0748 (figure 8) and phreatic explosions that ejected gas and tephra 100 m above the water (figure 9). Observers also reported that they saw a growing cone from ongoing ash emissions. The Wellington VAAC noted that the eruption was short-lived and had stopped by 1548 when the ash had dissipated. During an overflight on the afternoon of 31 January, gas-and-steam was observed rising from the ocean surface above Epi B, discolored water was visible around the eruption site, and pumice rafts were floating on the surface (figure 10). Several strands of pumice that drifted to the SW, NW, and N of Epi B were visible in Sentinel-2 satellite imagery on 2 and 14 February (figure 11). Gas-and-steam emissions were also visible at the surface for a few hours during 1 February. During 0700-1030 on 7 February residents observed minor, low-level gas-and-steam emissions above Epi B. The intensity of the gas-and-steam plumes varied, with stronger activity reported by local residents around 0600 on 8 February. On 23 February VMGD reported sustained seismicity and minor gas-and-steam plumes that only lasted a few hours. Two main explosions were recorded by different monitoring networks, including seismic stations and the infrasound array located in Papua New Guinea (Figure 3). Although this had no apparent consequence on the nearby communities, a small tsunami was however reported by locals and recorded on the coastal tide gauges of Port-Vila to the South and Luganville to the North showing a maximum amplitude of ~5 cm. (reference #13679) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13678 Global Volcanism Program (2023): Report on East Epi (Vanuatu) (Bennis, K.L., and Venzke, E., eds.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 48:3. Smithsonian Institution. #13679 Roger, J., Ashraf, S., Krippner, J., Assink, J., Gusman, A., Pelletier, B., Bani, P., Thomas, B.E.O., Kali, J. (2023): The East Epi Volcano submarine eruption and associated tsunami of 31 January 2023: a powerful event in the shadow of the HTHH eruption. Abstract NH51D-0505 presented at 2023 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 11-15 Dec. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2004 Feb 16 - Feb 24	Epi B Historical obs./docs.	2
2002 Mar 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1999 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1?
?? 1988 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	0
1979 ±5 y.	South flank of Epi B Historical obs./docs.	0
?? 1974 Nov 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	0
?? 1973 May 5 ±4 d. - Oct 26 ±5 d.	Uncertain Eruption	0
?? 1972 May 15 ±5 d. - Jun 25 ±5 d.	Uncertain Eruption	0
?? 1971 Oct 28 - Nov 15 ?	Uncertain Eruption	0
1960 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Three locations Historical obs./docs.	0
1958 Sep 16 ±15 d. - Nov 16 ±15 d.	Epi B cone? Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1953 Nov 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	0
1953 Feb 12 - Feb 19	Epi B and other vents Historical obs./docs.	3
1920 Jan 22	Epi B cone Historical obs./docs.	2
1901 Aug 9 (eruptive episode 1901 Aug 9)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	0	1-50 (*)	moderate	Info
1901 Aug 9: The French steamer Pacifique, which arrived from New Caledonia yesterday, brought news of a volcanic eruption in the New Hebrides Group. The first shocks appear to have occurred in the night of the 8th of last month, and they increased until they became so violent that the white inhabitants fled from their dwellings and the natives hid themselves in the bush. The shocks were very severe on Ambrym, Pentecost and Espritu Santo. So far as could be learnt no loss of life had taken place, but on the coast station dwellings were shaken to pieces. The earthquake was due to an eruption of a volcano near Epi. Describing that outburst, a passenger by the steamer La Parouse said: "Immense vomiting jets of smoke and flame went skyward. The spectacle as viewed from the deck of the La Parouse was impressively grand." The eruption was followed by a tidal wave, which did infinitely greater damage to the plantations than the eruption. (reference #6185) Epi Island, New Hebrides, 16.83 S, 168.53 E, 1901, New island--listed in Table 19: List of Active Volcanoes (reference #130) Cited references #130 Gutenberg, B. and C.F. Richter (1965): Seismicity of the earth and associated phenomena. Princeton University Press, 1954 (second edition); Hafner Publishing Company, New York and London (facsimile edition), 310 p. #6185 The Sydney Morning Herald (1901): Volcanic Eruption at New Hebrides. The Sydney Morning Herald, New South Wales, Australia, 4 September 1901, p. 7. Retrieved January 8, 2010 from http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14407505 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

(*) Estimated numbers

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Epi Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Epi volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Epi occurred in 2023.

+How often does Epi volcano erupt?

Since 1920, Epi volcano has had at least 9 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 11.7 years.

+How active is Epi volcano at present?

Epi volcano is infrequently active: Since 1900, it has had 9 eruptions, and been active during 9 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Epi has been in eruption one in 14 years on average. The last eruption was in 2023 and ended 3 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Epi volcano?

The largest eruption of Epi volcano in historic times occurred in 1953. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Epi Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).