Manam

December 3, 1996 Eruption of Manam

December 3, 1996 · VEI 3 · 13 deaths

Manam in Papua New Guinea erupted on December 3, 1996 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 13 people.

Where it erupted

Manam, Papua New Guinea, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
December 3, 1996
Volcano
Manam, stratovolcano
Volcanic Explosivity Index
3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Killed by
Pyroclastic flows, surges and direct blasts
Location
4.080° S, 145.037° E

The toll

Deaths
13
Injuries
29

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.

1996, December 3. Pyroclastic flows overran the village of Budua Old on the SW flank, resulting in 13 deaths. Wilham lists range of 4-13 fatalities and 29 injured. (reference #9675)

Other significant eruptions of Manam

More

Every eruption in 1996The 1900sManamEarthquakes near ManamThis 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 2125.