Tinakula Volcano

Updated: May 24, 2025 07:31 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, -10.38°S / 165.8°E

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Summit height: 851 m / 2,792 ft

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 22 Mar 2024 (eruption continues with lava flows from summit vent)

The northern side of Tinakula volcano with its "Sciara del Fuoco" below the crater at the right. Photo by Donn Tolia, 2002 (Geological Survey of the Solomon Islands, courtesy of CSIRO)

Tinakula volcano is located at the NW end of the Santa Cruz islands in the Solomon Islands. It forms a small 3.5 km wide and steep island, which is the upper 25% of a very active stratovolcano that rises more than 3 km from the sea floor. Tinakula is very similar to Stromboli volcano in Italy.
Tinakula's active summit crater is often in strombolian activity and the glowing bombs it ejects often roll down down a steep slope of loose ash and scoria extending to the sea on the SW side of the island.
The small 3.5 km wide Tinakula Island was inhabited until 1971 when a major eruption and a tsunami occurred and prompted people to abandon the island.
Tinakula has been frequently active since it was first discovered by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira in 1595.

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Tinakula webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: strombolian
Tinakula volcano eruptions: 2019 (?), 2012, 2008-2011, 2006-07, 2002 (?), 2001-02, 2002 (April)-2001, 1999, 1995, 1989-90, 1984-85, 1971, 1965-66, 1955 (?), 1951, 1909, 1897, 1886, 1871, 1869, 1857, 1855, 1840?, 1797, 1768, 1595

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

The mainly andesitic Tinakula volcano resembles Stromboli volcano in having a breached summit crater half-open to one side. It extends from the 851-m-high summit to below sea level. Landslides enlarged this scarp in 1965 and created an embayment on the NW coast.
Frequent historical eruptions have originated from a cone constructed within the large breached crater. These have left the upper flanks of the volcano and the steep apron of lava flows and volcaniclastic debris within the breach unvegetated.
The flank cone of Mendana is located on the SE side, named after the first western observer of an eruption of the volcano.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Tinakula volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Tinakula has had at least 24 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 23 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Tinakula volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Tinakula volcano since around 1800. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Tinakula can be found on the news page of Tinakula volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2018 or before - ongoing	Historical obs./docs.	2
2017 Oct 21 - Oct 26	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	3
2008 Sep 19 ? - Nov 29 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1?
2006 Feb 11 - 2007 Nov 9 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 2002 Nov 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	1?
?? 2002 Apr 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	1
2000 Feb 29 ? - 2001 May 8 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1999 May 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1995 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1989 Aug 16 ±15 d. - 1990 Feb 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1
1984 Jun 3 or before - 1985 Jun 13 or later	Upper NW flank Historical obs./docs.	2
1971 Sep 6 - Dec 11	Upper and lower NW flanks Historical obs./docs.	2
1971 Sep 6 (eruption 1971 Sep 6 - Dec 11)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2			Info
1971 Sep 6: Start Date: 1971 Sep 6, Stop Date: 1971 Dec 11. Eruption Certainty: Confirmed. VEI 2. Evidence: Historical Observations. Upper and lower NW flanks. (reference #2432) Other tsunamis due to earthquakes accompanying eruptions are: ... 1971 September 6 Tinakula... (reference #1686) Cited references #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #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/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1965 Nov 23 - 1966 Jun 11	Upper NW flank Historical obs./docs.	3
1966 Jan 13 (eruption 1965 Nov 23 - 1966 Jun 11)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3			Info
1966 Jan 13: Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 3, Area of Activity: Upper NW flank. Eruptive Characteristics: Flank (excentric) vent, Explosive eruption, Phreatic explosion(s), Lava flow(s), Tsunami (giant sea waves), Evacuation, Debris avalanche(s). (reference #2432) 1966. Tinakula. Ocean entry by landslide from small failure near summit. Small local waves only. (reference #10446, p. 536) 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/). #10446 Gillespie, Rosemary G., David A. Clague (2009): Landslides, Encyclopedia of Islands, University of California Press, Los Angeles, p. 535-536. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1955 Aug 16 ±15 d. - Oct 15 ±60 d.	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1951 Oct 23 - Nov 27 ±30 d.	Historical obs./docs.	3
1909 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1897 Mar 26 ±5 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1897 Mar 26 (eruption 1897 Mar 26 ±5 d.)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2		light	Info
1897 Mar 26: 1897 Mar 26 ± 5 days. Unknown (stop date). Confirmed. VEI 2. Evidence - Historical Observations. (reference #2432) 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/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1886	Historical obs./docs.	?
1871	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1869 Mar	Historical obs./docs.	2
1857 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1855 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1840 (eruption 1840 ?)	Historical obs./docs.	3	100-1,000 (*)		Info
1840: Nuees ardentes swept all sides of the island, killing all inhabitants. Heavy seas prevented escape. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1840 ?	Historical obs./docs.	3?

(*) 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

Eruptions of Tinakula volcano

1971 eruption & tsunami
A major eruption of Tinakula began on 6 September 1971, when a large explosion occurred from the summit crater that produced 2 pyroclastic flows on the E and W sides of the volcano and was followed by a tsunami 30 minutes later. A second explosion, also followed by a tsunami occurred on 7 Sep.
The explosive activity at the summit was followed by an effusive phase that opened a fissure vent about half way up in the western wall of the landslide scar below the summit craters. A lava flow from this fissure reached the sea.
At the same time, intense strombolian activity continued from the summit and built up a new summit cone. Incandescent blocks were observed reaching several 100 m above the crater.
The activity increased towards the end of September and in October and ended in December. Most of the population (160 inhabitants) was evacuated. ...more info

1840 eruption and fatalities
An powerful eruption occurred at Tinakula around 1840, producing pyroclastic flows on all sides of the island, killing its inhabitants.

Tinakula Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Tinakula volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Tinakula began in 2018 and is continuing (as of May 2025).

+How often does Tinakula volcano erupt?

Since 1595 AD, Tinakula volcano has had at least 23 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 18.7 years.
Many eruptions of Tinakula have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 35 out of 430 years until now. In other words, Tinakula has been active at least one in 12.3 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Tinakula is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Tinakula volcano at present?

Tinakula volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 25 eruptions, and been active during 25 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Tinakula has been in eruption one in 5 years on average. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Tinakula volcano?

The largest eruption of Tinakula volcano in historic times occurred in 2017. 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

Tinakula 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).