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Tinakula Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 08:44 GMT -
stratovolcano 851 m / 2,792 ft
Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, -10.38°S / 165.8°E
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)
Last update: 22 Mar 2024 (eruption continues with lava flows from summit vent)
The northern side of Tinakula volcano with its "Sciara del Fuoco" below the crater at the right. Photo by Donn Tolia, 2002 (Geological Survey of the Solomon Islands, courtesy of CSIRO)
The northern side of Tinakula volcano with its "Sciara del Fuoco" below the crater at the right. Photo by Donn Tolia, 2002 (Geological Survey of the Solomon Islands, courtesy of CSIRO)

Tinakula volcano is located at the NW end of the Santa Cruz islands in the Solomon Islands. It forms a small 3.5 km wide and steep island, which is the upper 25% of a very active stratovolcano that rises more than 3 km from the sea floor. Tinakula is very similar to Stromboli volcano in Italy.
Tinakula's active summit crater is often in strombolian activity and the glowing bombs it ejects often roll down down a steep slope of loose ash and scoria extending to the sea on the SW side of the island.
The small 3.5 km wide Tinakula Island was inhabited until 1971 when a major eruption and a tsunami occurred and prompted people to abandon the island.
Tinakula has been frequently active since it was first discovered by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira in 1595.

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Typical eruption style: strombolian
Tinakula volcano eruptions: 2019 (?), 2012, 2008-2011, 2006-07, 2002 (?), 2001-02, 2002 (April)-2001, 1999, 1995, 1989-90, 1984-85, 1971, 1965-66, 1955 (?), 1951, 1909, 1897, 1886, 1871, 1869, 1857, 1855, 1840?, 1797, 1768, 1595

Latest nearby earthquakes

No recent earthquakes
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Background

The mainly andesitic Tinakula volcano resembles Stromboli volcano in having a breached summit crater half-open to one side. It extends from the 851-m-high summit to below sea level. Landslides enlarged this scarp in 1965 and created an embayment on the NW coast.
Frequent historical eruptions have originated from a cone constructed within the large breached crater. These have left the upper flanks of the volcano and the steep apron of lava flows and volcaniclastic debris within the breach unvegetated.
The flank cone of Mendana is located on the SE side, named after the first western observer of an eruption of the volcano.

Eruptions of Tinakula volcano



1971 eruption & tsunami
A major eruption of Tinakula began on 6 September 1971, when a large explosion occurred from the summit crater that produced 2 pyroclastic flows on the E and W sides of the volcano and was followed by a tsunami 30 minutes later. A second explosion, also followed by a tsunami occurred on 7 Sep.
The explosive activity at the summit was followed by an effusive phase that opened a fissure vent about half way up in the western wall of the landslide scar below the summit craters. A lava flow from this fissure reached the sea.
At the same time, intense strombolian activity continued from the summit and built up a new summit cone. Incandescent blocks were observed reaching several 100 m above the crater.
The activity increased towards the end of September and in October and ended in December. Most of the population (160 inhabitants) was evacuated. ...more info

1840 eruption and fatalities
An powerful eruption occurred at Tinakula around 1840, producing pyroclastic flows on all sides of the island, killing its inhabitants.

Latest satellite images

Tinakula satellite image sat1Tinakula satellite image sat2
Fri, 22 Mar 2024, 05:39

Tinakula volcano (Solomon Islands): eruption continues with lava flows from summit vent

A heat radiation at the summit of Tinakula volcano on 21 March (image: Sentinel-2)
The effusive eruption at the volcano continues. ... Read all
Wed, 20 Mar 2024, 15:00

Tinakula volcano (Santa Cruz Islands) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 13 March-19 March 2024 (Continuing Activity)

A thermal anomaly extending from the summit of Tinakula down the W flank to the coast was identified in satellite images on 11 March. Images acquired on 6 and 16 March were cloudy or mostly cloudy. ... Read all
Stamps from the British Solomon Islands showing Tinakula (www.iomoon.com).
Stamps from the British Solomon Islands showing Tinakula (www.iomoon.com).
Tinakula volcano with its sciara del fuoco (image: Lance McC, date unknown but before 12/2009, via Panoramio / Volcano HotSpot blog)
Tinakula volcano with its sciara del fuoco (image: Lance McC, date unknown but before 12/2009, via Panoramio / Volcano HotSpot blog)

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