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Banua Wuhu

Complex in Indonesia

Last Eruption: 1919

Key Facts

Elevation

-5 m (-16 ft)

Type

Complex

Location

3.146°, 125.442°

Region

Sangihe Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The submarine Banua Wuhu volcanic cone lies ~600 m off the western coast of Mahengatang Island, the emergent summit of a large submarine edifice, in the Sangihe Islands. Several ephemeral islands were constructed during the 19th and 20th centuries. An island 90 m high was formed in 1835, but had eroded to only a few rocks by 1848.

Another island formed in 1889 was 50 m high in 1894. Five craters were reported during an eruption that built an island in 1904. An island that formed in 1919 had disappeared by 1935.

Bathymetry shows shallow water over an area larger than Mahengatang Island towards the W (Haryanto, 2020). Satellite imagery frequently shows two sources of discolored water in the area, and it is a popular location for divers, who report sulfur odors and bubbling.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskHigh
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
    Silica Content
    Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Observed

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity107 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Western Pacific Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Western Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 267030
    • Evidence: Eruption Observed
    • Epoch: Holocene

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.