Nila

Stratovolcano in Indonesia

Last Eruption: 1968

Key Facts

Elevation

781 m (2,562 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-6.730°, 129.500°

Region

Inner Banda Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The 5 x 6 km Nila Island in the Banda Sea is comprised of a low-rimmed caldera breached at sea level on the south and east, with a youthful forested cone. Phreatic eruptions from the dominantly andesitic volcano, also known as Laworkawra, have occurred from summit vents and flank fissures. A 1932 eruption from a fissure that extended from the summit to the SE coast produced heavy ashfall that forced abandonment of Rumadai village.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

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

Metric	Value	Global Ranking	Significance
Total Recorded Eruptions	Unknown	Low	Moderately active volcano
Maximum VEI	VEI Unknown	Minor	Local impact potential
Recent Activity	58 years ago	Historical	Recently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Sunda-Banda 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: 265060
•Evidence: Eruption Observed
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

A fumarole plume (right-center) rises above the steep SE slopes of Nila volcano, also known as Laworkawra or Lawarkawra. A remnant of the rim of a 5-km-wide caldera forms the forested slope at the left. The 781-m-high summit above it is a post-caldera cone that fills much of the caldera and extends to the sea at the right. Phreatic eruptions from Gunung Nila have occurred from summit vents and flank fissures during historical time.

Photo by Ruska Hadian, 1975 (published in Kusumadinata 1979, "Data Dasar Gunungapi Indonesia").