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Tinakula

The Stromboli of the South Pacific

Elevation

796 m

Last Eruption

2018–present (ongoing)

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Solomon Islands

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity8 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Solomon Islands Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Santa Cruz Islands, Southwestern Pacific
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Solomon Islands

Interesting Facts

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Tinakula has been observed in eruption for over 430 years, since the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña first recorded its activity on September 7, 1595.

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An eruption around 1840 generated pyroclastic flows that swept all sides of the 3.5 km wide island, killing every inhabitant — one of the few documented cases of a volcanic eruption eradicating an entire island population.

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Tinakula's breached summit crater extends from the 796 m summit all the way to below sea level, creating a natural chute down which lava flows cascade directly into the ocean.

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The island has been uninhabited since 1971, when eruptions and a tsunami forced the evacuation of approximately 160 Polynesian settlers from Nukapu and Nupani.

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The volcano has been in a state of semi-continuous eruption since December 2018, yet has no permanent ground-based monitoring equipment — relying entirely on satellites and reports from islanders 40–60 km away.

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In 1871, the crew of HMS Rosario observed lava flowing down Tinakula's northwest flank into the sea, with flames and smoke erupting every 10 to 15 minutes.

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The 2017 eruption ejected an estimated 40 kilotonnes of sulphur dioxide and sent an ash plume to 10,700 m (35,000 ft), contaminating drinking water on the Reef Islands 60 km away.

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Volcanic bombs up to 5 cm in diameter of unknown age have been found in villages on the Reef Islands, over 50 km from Tinakula, having fallen from the sky during past eruptions.

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The 1927 Whitney South Sea Expedition landed on the erupting island to collect bird specimens for the American Museum of Natural History while lava cascaded from the summit above them.

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Tinakula is often called the 'Stromboli of the South Pacific' due to its similar morphology, persistent activity, and characteristic incandescent night-time displays visible from far offshore.

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Landing on Tinakula typically requires swimming through surf to reach the rocky shore, as the island lacks any beach or harbour suitable for boats.

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The total height of Tinakula's volcanic edifice from the sea floor to the summit is approximately 3–4 km, making the submerged portion roughly four times the height of the visible island.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tinakula volcano still active?
Yes, Tinakula is one of the most persistently active volcanoes in the world. It has been in a state of semi-continuous eruption since December 2018, with intermittent strombolian explosions, lava effusion, and ash emissions detected by satellite monitoring. The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 27 confirmed eruptions since the first European observation in 1595, and the volcano has been active for at least 35 of the past 430 years. Its characteristic activity involves the ejection of incandescent lava bombs from the summit cone, with debris rolling down the breached northwestern crater into the sea.
Is anyone living on Tinakula?
No, Tinakula has been uninhabited since 1971 when eruptions and a tsunami forced the evacuation of approximately 160 Polynesian settlers. The island was previously depopulated around 1840 when pyroclastic flows killed all inhabitants, then resettled in 1951 by families from the nearby islands of Nukapu and Nupani. Since the 1971 evacuation, no permanent settlement has existed, though islanders from the outer Reef Islands occasionally make the dangerous open-ocean crossing to tend coconut and taro gardens on the sheltered southeastern flank of the volcano.
Where is Tinakula located?
Tinakula is located at 10.386°S, 165.804°E, at the northwestern end of the Santa Cruz Islands in Temotu Province, the easternmost province of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It lies approximately 100 km northeast of the Solomon Trench, about 30 km north of Te Motu (Trevanion) Island, 40 km south of Nupani, and 60 km west of the Reef Islands. The nearest town is Lata on Nendo (Santa Cruz Island), approximately 25 km to the south. The Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, is roughly 400 km to the west.
How tall is Tinakula?
Tinakula rises 796 m (2,612 ft) above sea level, though some historical sources cite 851 m (2,792 ft), with the discrepancy likely due to summit changes from eruptions and collapses. The visible island is only the top portion of a much larger volcanic structure that rises an additional 2–3 km from the ocean floor, making the total edifice approximately 3–4 km tall — comparable to many major continental stratovolcanoes. The island itself is approximately 3.5 km (2.2 miles) wide at sea level.
What type of volcano is Tinakula?
Tinakula is classified as a stratovolcano (composite volcano), built from alternating layers of andesitic to basaltic andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits. Its most distinctive feature is a massive breached summit crater that opens to the northwest and extends from the summit to below sea level, created by sector collapse and enlarged by landslides in 1965. This horseshoe-shaped breach gives Tinakula a strong resemblance to Stromboli in Italy, and like Stromboli, it exhibits persistent strombolian activity with frequent small explosions and lava effusion.
Why is Tinakula compared to Stromboli?
Tinakula is often called the 'Stromboli of the South Pacific' because both volcanoes share several key characteristics: a horseshoe-shaped breach in the summit crater that channels lava and volcanic debris toward the sea, persistent strombolian activity with frequent small explosions visible from offshore, near-continuous eruption over historical timescales, similar elevations (Tinakula 796 m, Stromboli 924 m), and spectacular night-time incandescence. Both are oceanic island stratovolcanoes formed by subduction zone processes, though they lie in opposite hemispheres and on different plate boundaries.
Can you visit Tinakula?
Visiting Tinakula is extremely difficult and dangerous. The uninhabited island has no harbour, beach, or landing infrastructure, and reaching it requires a hazardous 40–60 km open-ocean crossing by small boat from the Reef Islands or Lata on Nendo. Landings typically require swimming through surf to rocky shores. The active eruption zone on the northwestern side is acutely dangerous, with falling lava bombs, toxic gases, and unstable slopes. Any visit should be treated as a serious expedition requiring experienced local boatmen, maritime safety equipment, and full awareness of volcanic hazards. There is no tourism infrastructure in the area.
What happened during the 1840 eruption of Tinakula?
Around 1840, Tinakula produced an explosive eruption that generated pyroclastic density currents — fast-moving avalanches of superheated gas and rock — that swept all sides of the 3.5 km wide island, killing the entire population. The eruption was rated VEI 3 and is one of the few documented cases in history of a volcanic eruption eradicating an entire island community. Exact casualty figures are unknown, as no detailed records from the indigenous population survive. The island was found uninhabited by later visitors, and was reportedly resettled by 1887 before being depopulated again by volcanic activity.