Benbow and Marum
Ambrym
Current alert level
Major Unrest
Description for Benbow and Marum
Ambrym, a large basaltic shield volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera, is one of the most active volcanoes of the Vanuatu arc. Benbow and Marum cones within the caldera are the main active vents, with glowing lava lake inside. Eruptions have occured almost yearly during time from cones within the caldera or from flank vents.
Elevation
1334 m / 4376 ft
Latitude
16° 15' 54.26'' S
Longitude
168° 7' 17.50'' E
Volcano Types
- Shield volcano
- Caldera
- Scoria cone
- Maars
Most recent eruptions
Mid-December 2018
A short-lived but moderate size eruption focused at the summit caldera, and also affected the Eastern Fracture or Rift Zone with ground deformation, rifting, faulting and uplift, but no eruption occurred there. The eruptions impacted and displaced some residents at the Eastern side of Ambrym island.
21st - 28th February 2015
Fissure eruption occured between Niri-Mbwelesu and Mbwelesu craters generating lava fountain, lava flow, formation of scoria cones and explosive activity with ash columns.
Past eruptions
1977
Large ash-eruptions occasionally occur from Marum and Benbow covering crops and villages in the west and north with ash.
1894, 1913, 1929
In 1894 explosion from Benbow with hurled column of dust charged steam, in 1913 and 1929 large fissure eruption and explosive activity, lava flows and lahards.
Current alert level
Major Unrest
Benbow and Marum real time image
Showing the most recent image from our camera
Benbow and Marum drum plot
Showing seismic activity over the last 24 hours
