White Island Volcano

Updated: Aug 31, 2025 04:54 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

New Zealand, -37.52°S / 177.18°E

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Summit height: 321 m / 1,053 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 28 Aug 2025 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Inside the crater of White Island volcano

White Island in the Bay of Plenty ca. 50 km off the North Island's east coast is one of New Zealands most active volcanoes, well known for its spectacular crater with strong hydrothermal activity and sulphur deposits. It is part of the active Taupo volcanic zone and last erupted in 2001 (phreatic explosion).

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White Island webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Tours | Images

Typical eruption style: Explosive (in historic time: frequent small phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions)
White Island volcano eruptions: 2019, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2001, 1998-2000, 1998, 1995, 1986-94, 1983-84, 1976-82, 1974, 1971, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968-69, 1966-67, 1962, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1955, 1947, 1933, 1930, 1928, 1926, 1924, 1922, 1909, 1908 (?), 1886?,1886, 1885 (?), 1885, 1856 (?), 1836, 1826

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Aug 30, 01:25 pm (GMT +12)	2.4 5 km	6.6 km (4.1 mi) to the E	New Zealand	Info
Friday, August 29, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Aug 29, 10:26 pm (GMT +12)	2.3 133 km	29 km (18 mi) to the NW	New Zealand	Info
Aug 29, 09:38 pm (GMT +12)	2.2 5 km	8.1 km (5 mi) to the W	New Zealand	Info
Monday, August 25, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Aug 26, 12:48 am (GMT +12)	1.9 40 km	23 km (15 mi) to the NW	New Zealand	Info
Sunday, August 24, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Aug 24, 11:03 pm (GMT +12)	1.9 104 km	13 km (7.8 mi) to the S	New Zealand	Info
Saturday, August 23, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Aug 23, 09:56 pm (GMT +12)	2.2 5 km	16 km (10 mi) to the N	New Zealand	Info
Aug 23, 02:50 pm (GMT +12)	2.5 12 km	17 km (10.3 mi) to the N	New Zealand	Info
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Aug 20, 05:14 am (GMT +12)	2.6 86 km	24 km (15 mi) to the W	New Zealand	Info
Aug 20, 03:39 am (GMT +12)	2.5 97 km	22 km (13 mi) to the W	New Zealand	Info

View recent quakes

Background

Uninhabited 2 x 2.4 km White Island, one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes, is the emergent summit of a 16 x 18 km submarine volcano in the Bay of Plenty about 50 km offshore of North Island. The 321-m-high island consists of two overlapping andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes; the summit crater appears to be breached to the SE because the shoreline corresponds to the level of several notches in the SE crater wall. Volckner Rocks, four sea stacks that are remnants of a lava dome, lie 5 km NNE of White Island. Intermittent moderate phreatomagmatic and strombolian eruptions have occurred at White Island throughout the short historical period beginning in 1826, but its activity also forms a prominent part of Maori legends. Formation of many new vents during the 19th and 20th centuries has produced rapid changes in crater floor topography. Collapse of the crater wall in 1914 produced a debris avalanche that buried buildings and workers at a sulfur-mining project.
(Source: GVP)

White Island Volcano Photos

Small river coming from the crater of White Island (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Fumarole at White Island (NZ) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Green crater lake of White Island, New Zealand, in 2010 (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Aerial view of White Island volcano, New Zealand (Photo: Richard Arculus)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: White Island volcano

In the past 10,000 years, White Island has had at least 37 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
Additionally, there are 6 uncertain or discredited eruptions from White Island volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of White Island volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of White Island can be found on the news page of White Island volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
2024 May 24 -	Historical obs./docs.	?
2019 Dec 9	1978/90 Crater Complex Historical obs./docs.	2
2019 Dec 09	Historical obs./docs.	2	22	Info
[...]a brief explosion at 1411 on 9 December 2019 produced an ash plume and pyroclastic surge that impacted the entire crater area. With 47 people on the island at the time, the death toll stood at 21 on 3 Feb 2019. At that time more patients were still in hospitals within New Zealand or their home countries. (ref# 12679) They were honeymooners, families on summer holidays, tourists on once-in-a-lifetime trips and tour guides showing off one of New Zealands most incredible sights. There were 47 of them padding around rocky Whakaari/White Island at 2.11pm on 9 December, when, without warning, it erupted. The volcano, which rises from the sea 50km off the coast of Whakatāne, spewed steam and rock, and shot ash 3.6km into the air, killing at least eight people and injuring a minimum of 31 others. Eight people are missing, and police say there is no sign of survivors on the island. Of the 47 people who were on Whakaari when it blew, 38 were passengers on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, which was docked in Tauranga Harbour. (ref #12569) Police say another person has died following the Whakaari / White Island eruption bringing the official toll to 15. It is believed 47 people were on or close to Whakaari / White Island when it erupted on Monday. With two people still missing on or around the island after the eruption, that brings the total number of deaths to 17. (ref #12570) A Workplace Health and Safety investigation into the Whakaari White Island eruption which has killed 16 and left 26 others in hospital could take a year to complete[...]Fourteen people remain in hospitals around New Zealand, 10 of them are in a critical condition. Thirteen patients have been transported to Australia for treatment although one has since died. Sixteen people in total were killed. Two remain missing. (ref #12574) The two people whose bodies were still unrecovered after the eruption at Whakaari have been confirmed dead by the Chief Coroner. The announcement brings the official death toll from the eruption on 9 December to 20 people. Several died of their injuries after being rescued from the island. At the time of the eruption, 47 people were on the island including 38 cruise ship passengers.(ref #12582) Police have confirmed another person has died as a result of injuries suffered in the eruption on 9 December. The announcement brings the official death toll from the eruption to 21 people (ref #12618) Police in New Zealand have confirmed the death of yet another person as a result of the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption on 9 December 2019. This death brings the official number of people to die from the tragedy to 22. A further 25 people who were on the island at the time survived, but suffered severe injuries as a result of the burns they received. The death of 64-year-old Horst Westenfelder, a German, occurred on 2 July, but was only confirmed yesterday (Thursday) in an official police statement. It is unclear why police waited more than four months to make the announcement. (ref #12811) 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/). #12568 Radio New Zealand (2019): Live: Whakaari / White Island eruption - day 2. Published 09 December 2019. Link #12569 Radio New Zealand (2019): Whakaari / White Island The dead and missing. Link #12570 Radio New Zealand (2019): Whakaari / White Island eruption: Police confirm another death. Published 10:01 pm 14 December 2019 Link #12574 Radio New Zealand (2019): Whakaari eruption: WorkSafe investigation may take a year. Published 16 December 2019. Link #12582 Stuff (New Zealand) (2019): Whakaari/White Island: Official death toll rises to 17. Published 23 December 2019. Link #12613 Radio New Zealand (2020): Whakaari / White Island eruption: two missing people officially listed as dead. Published 23 January 2020. Link #12618 Radio New Zealand (2020): Whakaari/White Island eruption: Death toll rises to 21. Published 29 January 2020. Link #12670 Chapple, G. (New Zealand Geographic) (2020): What Happened on Whakaari? Issue 162, Mar-Apr 2020. Link #12679 Global Volcanism Program (2020): Report on Whakaari/White Island (New Zealand) (Krippner, J.B., and Venzke, E., eds.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 45:2. Smithsonian Institution. #12811 Australian Times (2020): Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption death toll now at 22. Published 27 November 2020. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2016 Sep 13 - Sep 14	2012 lava dome Historical obs./docs.	1
2016 Apr 27	1978/90 Crater Complex Historical obs./docs.	1
2012 Aug 7 - 2013 Oct 11	1978/90 Crater Complex Historical obs./docs.	2
2001 Feb 19	MH vent Historical obs./docs.	2
2000 Mar 7 - Sep 5 ±4 d.	MH vent Historical obs./docs.	3?
1998 Aug 22 - 1999 Aug 16 ±15 d.	NW corner of 1978/90 crater complex Historical obs./docs.	2
1998 Mar 28 - Mar 29	Historical obs./docs.	1
1995 Jun 28 ? - Jun 29 ?	Wade Crater Historical obs./docs.	1
1986 Feb 1 ? - 1994 Jul 28	Congress and numerous other craters Historical obs./docs.	3
1983 Dec 26 ±5 d. - 1984 Feb 12 ±5 d.	North margin of 1978 crater complex Historical obs./docs.	2
1982 Jul 1	Discredited Eruption
1976 Dec 18 - 1982 Jan 29	Christmas, Gibrus, and 1978 craters Historical obs./docs.	3
1974 Sep 8 ±10 d.	SE of Donald Mound, Historical obs./docs.	2
1971 Jul 19 - Jul 20	South of Rudolf (1971 crater) Historical obs./docs.	2
1971 Apr 9 ±3 d.	Noisy Nellie Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1970 Jun 30 ±30 d.	Rudolf vent Historical obs./docs.	2
1969 Aug 16 ±15 d. - Sep 16 ±15 d.	Rudolf vent Historical obs./docs.	2
1968 Jan 27 - 1969 Feb 16 ±15 d.	Rudolf vent (back wall of 1933 crater) Historical obs./docs.	3
1966 Nov 13 - 1967 Mar 16 ±15 d.	Gilliver Crater Historical obs./docs.	3
1962 Dec 15	Big John Crater Historical obs./docs.	3
1959 Dec 14 - Dec 20	Noisy Nellie Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1958 Dec 16 ±15 d.	Noisy Nellie and 1933 craters Historical obs./docs.	1
1957 Dec 11	Historical obs./docs.	2
1955 Jan 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1947 Jan	Noisy Nellie Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1933 Apr 2	Foot of crater ridge (1933 crater) Historical obs./docs.	3
1930 Mar 16	Historical obs./docs.	2
1928 Sep 1 - Sep 3 ±1 d.	Between Big Donald and Lot's Wife Historical obs./docs.	1
1926 Feb 3	Little Donald vent Historical obs./docs.	2
1924	North end of crater (Schuberts Fairy?) Historical obs./docs.	2
1922	NW end of crater (Lot's Wife vent) Historical obs./docs.	2
1914 Sep 10 ?	Discredited Eruption
1914 Sep 10 (eruption 1914 Sep 10 ?)	Historical obs./docs.	0	11	Info
1914 Sep 10: Debris avalanche from SW corner of crater wall overwhlemed party of 11 sulfer workers and two buildings. No eruption. 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
1909 May 13	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1908 Nov 28 - Dec 6	Uncertain Eruption	2

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 White Island volcano

2012 eruption
A new phase of activity started on 5 August 2012, following an increase in seismic activity since July. The eruption consisted in weak ash emissions from a new vent in the Crater Lake. It is the first ash emission from White Island in 12 years. ...more info

White Island Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of White Island volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of White Island occurred in 2024.

+How often does White Island volcano erupt?

Since 1826, White Island volcano has had at least 37 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 5.4 years.
Many eruptions of White Island have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 52 out of 199 years until now. In other words, White Island has been active at least one in 3.8 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from White Island is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is White Island volcano at present?

White Island volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 48 eruptions, and been active during 48 years out of 126 as of now. This means, White Island has been in eruption one in 2.6 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 8 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of White Island volcano?

The largest eruption of White Island volcano in historic times occurred in 2000. 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

White Island 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).