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Tanna | Ambae | Karua | Ambrym | Lopevi | Gaua
| Epi
Ambae Island and Lombenben Volcano
Flood and explosion at Voui
Lake | Voui
Lake: 50 million cubic meter of acid water | Recent
resumption of volcanic activity | Real-time
satellite
monitoring of the volcano
Catastrophic flood and explosion at Voui Lake
The last known eruptions took place ca. 1575, 1670
and 1870. The remains of explosion craters, lava flows and lahars,
visible today, show that Lombenben has been intermittently active,
with roughly one major event every century. Through the 20th century,
its activity has mostly consisted of the emission of fumaroles,
with two significant events:
- A catastrophic flood took place in 1914 in the south-eastern district
of the island, and could have been triggered by an earthquake. We
have few details concerning this event, as the island is remote
and isolated, and the only records are those of oral tradition.
At the time, Vanuatu - including Ambae - was known as the New Hebrides,
and was administered jointly by France and Great Britain. The newly
independent nation officially took the name "Vanuatu"
on July 30, 1980.
- A phreatic explosion which occurred within Voui Lake on March
3, 1995.
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