October 7, 1958 Eruption of Kuwae
Kuwae in Vanuatu erupted on October 7, 1958 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It caused a tsunami.
Where it erupted
Kuwae, Vanuatu, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- October 7, 1958
- Volcano
- Kuwae, caldera
- Country
- Vanuatu
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 2, moderate (eruption column 1 to 5 km)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Location
- 16.830° S, 168.523° E
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this eruption.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #414:
1958, October 7, 21:00 (10h). The residents of Epi Island noted unusual waves at sea to the southeast of the island. The waves seemed to come from an underwater volcanic eruption. An airplane survey of the region showed spots and streams of unusual color as well as a center of churning water (Anon., 1958).
Reference #2432:
Dating Technique: Historical Records, Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 2?, Area of Activity: Karua, Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption, Submarine eruption, Explosive eruption.
Other significant eruptions of Kuwae
More
Every eruption in 1958The 1900sKuwaeEarthquakes near KuwaeThis 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 5644.