April 1, 1917 Eruption of Okataina
Okataina in New Zealand erupted on April 1, 1917 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption killed 2 people.
Where it erupted
Okataina, New Zealand, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- April 1, 1917
- Volcano
- Okataina, lava dome
- Country
- New Zealand
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 1, small (eruption column 100 m to 1 km)
- Killed by
- Tephra (ash, bombs, lapilli, steam blasts)
- Location
- 38.157° S, 176.507° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Steam blast at Frying Pan Flat lifted roof off Waimangu accommodation 800 m away. 3 occupants scalded by searing steam blast. Wife and child of resident guide died later. (reference #9675)
Other significant eruptions of Okataina
More
Every eruption in 1917The 1900sOkatainaEarthquakes near OkatainaThis day in weather history
Sources
Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 18.