March 18, 2011 Eruption of Karangetang
Karangetang in Indonesia erupted on March 18, 2011 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.
Where it erupted
Karangetang, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- March 18, 2011
- Volcano
- Karangetang, stratovolcano
- Country
- Indonesia
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 2, moderate (eruption column 1 to 5 km)
- Location
- 2.781° N, 125.407° E
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
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.
Weekly Report 16 March-22 March 2011:
On 18 March lava flows traveled 1.5 km and collapses from the lava flow fronts generated avalanches that moved another 500 m. Avalanches from the crater traveled 3.8 km down the flanks. Multiple pyroclastic flows about 1.5 km long destroyed a bridge, damaged a house, and trapped 31 people between the flow paths who were later evacuated. Later that day pyroclastic flows traveled 4 km, reaching the shore. The Alert Level was raised to 4. On 20 March lava flows traveled 1.8 km and avalanches from the lava flow fronts again went 500 m. Incandescent material rolled 1.5 km down the flanks and pyroclastic flows traveled 2.3 km from the crater. According to news articles, 600-1,200 people were evacuated from villages on the W flank. (reference #2432)
Other significant eruptions of Karangetang
More
Every eruption in 2011The 2000sKarangetangEarthquakes near KarangetangThis 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 5504.