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Kuwae

Kuwae is a caldera in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions, Vanuatu, rising to -2 m. Its most recent recorded eruption was in 1974.

About Kuwae

The largely submarine Kuwae caldera occupies the area between Epi and Tongoa islands. The 6 x 12 km caldera contains two basins that cut the NW end of Tongoa Island and the flank of the Tavani Ruru volcano on the SE peninsula of Epi Island. Native legends and radiocarbon dates from pyroclastic-flow deposits have been correlated with a 1452 CE ice-core peak thought to be associated with collapse of Kuwae caldera; however, others considered the deposits to be of smaller-scale eruptions and the ice-core peak to be associated with another unknown major South Pacific eruption. The submarine Karua cone in the east-central part of the caldera has formed several ephemeral islands since it was first observed in eruption during 1897.

Eruption reports

Reports from GDACS and NASA EONET linked to this volcano.

No eruption reports in our records yet. New reports appear here automatically.

Earthquakes nearby, 30 days

Within about 50 km. Swarms of small quakes can sometimes accompany volcanic unrest.

No earthquakes recorded nearby in the last 30 days.