Benbow and Marum
Ambrym
Current alert level
Major Unrest
Description for Benbow and Marum
Ambrym is a vast basaltic shield volcano featuring a 12-kilometer-wide caldera, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the Vanuatu arc. Within the caldera, the Benbow and Marum cones served as the primary active vents, famously hosting glowing lava lakes that were visible at night.
However, following the 2018 eruption, these iconic lava lakes disappeared, and the nighttime glow that once captivated residents of Ambrym and nearby islands is no longer visible. Despite this change, Ambrym remains highly active, with eruptions occurring almost annually. These eruptions originate either from cones within the caldera or from vents along the volcano’s flanks.
Elevation
1334 m / 4376 ft
Latitude
16° 15' 54.26'' S
Longitude
168° 7' 17.50'' E
Volcano Types
- Caldera
- Shield volcano
- Scoria cone
- Maars
Most recent eruptions
13TH-16TH JANUARY 2024
Another lava flow event where locals reported loud explosions, substantial gas emissions and glow observed in Benbow crater.
25TH - 27TH JANUARY 2022
A thick ash column accompanied by substantial gas emissions and a visible glow has been observed once again. This volcanic activity remains confined within Benbow Crater, where lava flow has been reported within the crater.
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.
Past eruptions
21ST - 28TH FEBRUARY 2015
Fissure eruption occurred between Niri-Mbwelesu and Mbwelesu craters generating lava fountain, lava flow, formation of scoria cones and explosive activity with ash columns.
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
