Manaro Voui on the island of Ambae in Vanuatu has entered another forceful eruptive phase with ash rising to several kilometres above the crater and tall lava fountains visible through breaks in the cloud cover. The latest activity adds to a long record of sudden explosive behavior from a volcano known for sharp changes in pressure and violent interaction between magma and the water in its summit lake. Footage recorded by residents shows strong incandescent bursts inside the crater and dense columns of ash drifting across the upper slopes. Local reports also describe a new surge of molten material inside the crater that may form another flow, adding to the limited number of confirmed lava events this volcano has produced in the modern era.
A massive volcanic eruption at Manaro Voui, Ambae Volcano in Vanuatu, where volcanic activity has been increasing and ash plumes were seen rising from the crater
This volcano is one of Vanuatu’s most active and dangerous, known for sudden explosive eruptions. pic.twitter.com/vuWVbJLBjd
— CMNS_Media✍🏻 (@1SanatanSatya) February 24, 2026
Manaro Voui dominates Ambae as a large shield structure built by repeated eruptions over long periods of time. The summit contains a wide caldera system with several crater lakes, the most active being Voui. The lake sits directly above zones where fresh magma moves upward, and when that magma breaks through into the water it produces powerful steam driven explosions. These blasts send ash and gas high above the island and can shift without much warning. The chemistry of the water, the depth of the lake, and the pressure within the conduit all influence how quickly these transitions occur. Even periods that appear quiet have been known to shift into highly active phases with little advance signal.
Communities on Ambae have long dealt with the hazards that come from this system. Ashfall is one of the most disruptive, covering crops, contaminating water, and making the air difficult to breathe. Fine ash settles into roofs and can cause structural failure when wet. Larger particles accumulate across farmland and reduce soil quality. Acidic content in the plume can damage vegetation and make rainwater unsafe without treatment. When heavy rain follows an eruption the loose ash on the upper slopes mixes with runoff and forms fast moving lahars that cut through valleys and damage anything in their path. These flows have been among the most destructive secondary hazards the island faces during sustained eruptive periods.
The crater itself is capable of rapid and complex behavior. The interaction between magma and water produces bursts that range from short pulses to prolonged jets of ash and steam. At other times the water level drops, exposing parts of the crater floor and allowing lava to build cones or short flows. Observers watching the current eruption have noted strong internal glow and repeated ejections of incandescent material which indicate that molten rock is standing close to the surface. When fresh magma enters a water rich environment like this, the results can vary from quieter degassing episodes to violent expulsions depending on how quickly the two materials meet.
Monitoring agencies in Vanuatu maintain instruments on and around the island to track these shifts. Seismic sensors detect movement of magma and changes in underground pressure. Gas measurements show how much sulfur dioxide is rising from the vent, an indicator of how active the conduit is. Satellite imagery provides an overhead view of thermal changes, ash columns, and the position of the plume. Combined, these tools show a system that remains active rather than one that is winding down. The ongoing eruption fits a long pattern of heightened activity that includes ash emission, crater explosions, strong degassing, and occasional lava release.
The renewed activity has drawn attention from regional aviation authorities because ash at these heights poses a hazard to aircraft engines. Pilots rely on advisories when plumes rise into air routes, and images of the current eruption have already circulated among monitoring centers. The plume height, color, and density help analysts determine the level of unrest. Darker ash typically means fresh fragmentation of magma while lighter columns suggest more steam driven activity. Both types are visible in the current footage which is consistent with a system where water and magma are still interacting inside the crater.
Residents across parts of Ambae and nearby islands have reported faint ashfall and a persistent smell of volcanic gas during the stronger pulses. These conditions are common during active cycles and can continue even when eruptive output appears to weaken. The volcano does not always follow a smooth pattern of intensification or decline. It can shift in short bursts, repeat explosions, slow degassing periods, and then pulse again without forming a clear trend. This is typical for crater lake systems where water volumes change and pressure pathways rearrange themselves as new material enters the vent.
Manaro Voui remains one of the most closely watched volcanoes in the Pacific because of its ability to transition rapidly into high output phases. The current eruption confirms that the magma supply beneath the summit is active and that the lake environment continues to drive explosive behavior. Ash, gas, and lava fountains remain visible, and reports from observers show a system that is far from stable. Authorities continue to monitor the volcano and maintain exclusion zones around the summit. For the communities that live near it, the key hazards remain ashfall, acid contamination, limited visibility, and the potential for lahars when rainfall meets deep layers of loose volcanic material. The latest eruption reinforces the reality that Manaro Voui is active, unpredictable, and capable of producing significant changes in a short period of time.
A massive volcanic eruption at Manaro Voui, Ambae Volcano in Vanuatu, where volcanic activity has been increasing and ash plumes were seen rising from the crater
This volcano is one of Vanuatu’s most active and dangerous, known for sudden explosive eruptions. pic.twitter.com/vuWVbJLBjd
— CMNS_Media✍🏻 (@1SanatanSatya) February 24, 2026
