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Kie Besi

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 0.32°N
  • 127.4°E

  • 1,357 m
    4,452 ft

  • 268070
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Weekly Report: 15 June-21 June 2016 Citation IconCite this Report

PVMBG reported that during 1 January-15 June gas plumes from Makian rose no higher than the crater rim. Seismicity fluctuated but decreased overall. On 16 June the Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)


Most Recent Bulletin Report: July 2009 (BGVN 34:07) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity increased during May 2009 after tectonic earthquakes

Makian remained in repose as tectonic earthquakes striking the region preceded a cluster of volcanic earthquakes during May and early June 2009. Makian lies SW of the S-central portion of Halmahera Island (in the province of Maluku Utara). Some local residents refer to the island as Mt. Kie Besi; however, it is better known under the name of Mt. Makian (other variants include Kie Besi, Makjan, Makyan, and Wakiong).

The last eruption of Makian occurred in 1988 (SEAN 13:07, 13:08, 13:10, and 13:11) and created a volcanic dome or plug on the crater floor with a diameter of 600 m and volume of ~ 282,600 m3. The 1988 eruption led to the temporary evacuation of the island's 15,000 residents (SEAN 13:07). Not previously discussed in the Bulletin, the TOMS image archive shows several SO2 clouds from the 1988 eruption (during 30 July-5 August 1988) as well as visible and infrared imagery (Sawada, 1994).

The following information was translated from a Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) report dated 17 July 2009. Authorities raised the hazard status on 2 June 2009 (from normal, Alert Level 1 to 2) due to the following seismic and other observations.

The pattern of earthquakes and tremor, high for most of May 2009, decreased rapidly after the 28th (table 2). Hot explosions continued until at least mid-June from sulfurous vents on the S side of the lava dome. Emissions from these vents were off-white, with weak pressure, and they fed a plume reaching ~ 10 m above the peak.

Table 2. Seismicity recorded at Makian during 1 May-3 June 2009. Courtesy of Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM).

Date Deep volcanic earthquakes Shallow volcanic earthquakes Maximum tremor amplitude
01-28 May 2009 43 (2/day avg.) 18 (1/day avg.) 0.5-1 mm
29-31 May 2009 7 (2/day avg.) 13 (4/day avg.) 0.5-8 mm
01 June 2009 1 1 0.5-6 mm
02-03 June 2009 1-10/day 1-4/day --

An increase in tectonic earthquakes in the Maluku Utara (N Moluccas) region preceded the increased activity at Makian. No recent morphological changes have been observed. Based on observations up to 30 June 2009, the hazard status was downgraded to Alert Level 1 on 16 July. However, authorities still prohibited people from climbing to the peak.

The MODVOLC system had no recorded thermal alerts from Makian from at least the beginning of 2000 through August 2009.

Reference. Sawada, Y, 1994, Tracking of Regional Volcanic Ash Clouds by Geostationary Meteorological Satellite, in Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety, edited by Thomas J. Casadevall, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2047.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

Weekly Reports - Index


2016: March | June
2009: May | July
2001: August


15 June-21 June 2016 Citation IconCite this Report

PVMBG reported that during 1 January-15 June gas plumes from Makian rose no higher than the crater rim. Seismicity fluctuated but decreased overall. On 16 June the Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)


2 March-8 March 2016 Citation IconCite this Report

PVMBG reported that seismicity at Makian increased at the beginning of January and was characterized by deep volcanic earthquakes, low-frequency events, and tremor. Tremor amplitude increased at the beginning of March. Gas emissions did not change; weak solfatara emissions continued to rise from the crater floor. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 7 March. Residents and tourists were reminded not to approach the crater within a radius of 1.5 km.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)


15 July-21 July 2009 Citation IconCite this Report

CVGHM reported that on 16 July the Alert Level for Makian was lowered from 2 to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) because no visual changes or increased seismicity were noted. Residents and tourists were not permitted to climb Makian.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)


27 May-2 June 2009 Citation IconCite this Report

CVGHM reported that during 28 May-2 June seismicity from Makian increased, particularly the occurrence of tremor. Little, if any, increases in emissions were seen. The Alert level was raised to 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)


22 August-28 August 2001 Citation IconCite this Report

VSI stated that last week's report of volcanic activity at Makian on 16 August was false. An observer mistook the glow from a bush fire as volcanic activity.

Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)


15 August-21 August 2001 Citation IconCite this Report

An eruption began at Makian on 16 August at 1930. During the eruption, chunks of incandescent lava were ejected 75 m through the air. Residents were evacuated to the S side of the island. The volcano is at Alert Level Red.

NOTE: VSI has since reported that this eruption is likely to have been a bush fire. We are seeking more information.

Source: Société Volcanologique Européenne


Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

07/1976 (NSEB 01:10) Evacuation due to possible pending eruption

09/1976 (NSEB 01:12) Investigation by volcanologists reveal no signs of activity

07/1988 (SEAN 13:07) 100-year dormancy ends with large ash eruption; 15,000 evacuated; no fatalities

08/1988 (SEAN 13:08) Weak steam emission and seismicity

10/1988 (SEAN 13:10) Satellite data on July plumes

11/1988 (SEAN 13:11) More details on July-August eruption

09/2001 (BGVN 26:09) Brush fire leads to a falsely alleged 16-17 August 2001 eruption report

07/2009 (BGVN 34:07) Seismicity increased during May 2009 after tectonic earthquakes




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


July 1976 (NSEB 01:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Evacuation due to possible pending eruption

The Jakarta Domestic Service reported on 13 June that "the Social Affairs Dept. has designated Malifut County in Kao Subdistrict, North Maluku District, as a resettlement area for 3,250 families being evacuated from Makian Island, because there is a possibility that the volcano on the island will erupt at any time."

Information Contacts: Jakarta DRS, Jakarta.


September 1976 (NSEB 01:12) Citation IconCite this Report

Investigation by volcanologists reveal no signs of activity

Fears of renewed activity at Makian, which last erupted in 1890, stemmed from earthquakes felt in the area in 1972. Investigations carried out between January 1973 and July 1976 by GSI volcanologists indicated that the earthquakes recorded were of tectonic origin and that the volcano shows no signs of renewed activity.

Information Contacts: G. de Néve, GSI, Bandung.


July 1988 (SEAN 13:07) Citation IconCite this Report

100-year dormancy ends with large ash eruption; 15,000 evacuated; no fatalities

Makian emitted a white fume cloud 500 m above the summit crater on 17 July, ending a 100-year dormancy. Local residents reported a reddish glow at the cloud's base. The 15,000 residents of Makian Island were evacuated to Moti Island, 10 km N, in anticipation of a larger event similar to past violent eruptions. A NOTAM issued on 18 July at 1156 warned aircraft to avoid the area below ~2 km altitude. By 28 July, activity was limited to emission of a white fume cloud. On 29 July at 1115, a 7-km ash column was erupted, and at 1121, a larger explosion ejected an 8-km cloud. VSI monitored the eruption from its observation post on Moti Island. Smaller explosions occurred that afternoon and were continuing as of 1 August.

GMS satellite imagery first showed an eruption plume on 29 July [at] 1200, when a cloud 55 km wide and 100 km long extended SW from Makian (figure 1). Its coldest area was from -68 to -75°C, corresponding to an altitude of 14-16 km asl (figure 2). Plumes were not evident at 1800 or 2100. Small volcanic-like clouds, ~30 km wide and 130 km long, were seen from Makian to the WSW at 2100 on 30 July and 0300, 0900, 1200 on 31 July. Other small clouds seen 1-4 August may be atmospheric.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Portions of four infrared GMS satellite images on 29 and 31 July 1988, showing clouds that may have been erupted from Makian. Arrows indicate the clouds, apparently attached to the volcano at 1200 on 29 July and at 1200 on 31 July. Courtesy of Y. Sawada.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Temperature gradients in Makian's 29 July 1988 eruption cloud, measured from three GMS infrared images. The volcano is indicated by a solid triangle. Courtesy of Y. Sawada.

Information Contacts: VSI; J. Latter, DSIR Geophysics, New Zealand; Y. Sawada, JMA.


August 1988 (SEAN 13:08) Citation IconCite this Report

Weak steam emission and seismicity

Smaller explosions continued until early August, then activity steadily decreased. Weak emissions of white steam reached more than 100 m above the crater rim during August. About 17 volcanic and seven tectonic earthquakes were registered daily.

Information Contacts: VSI.


October 1988 (SEAN 13:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Satellite data on July plumes

New data from Japan's GMS satellite.... An image at 1200 on 29 July (figure 1) shows a dense plume with a surface temperature of -70°C (figure 2), suggesting an altitude of 15.2 km (table 1).

Table 1. Analysis of GMS satellite data by Yosihiro Sawada, with parameters of the 29 July Makian plume and possible eruption clouds on 31 July 1988.

Date Local time Attached to volcano? Width (km) Length (km) Direction Surface Temp. Height (km)
29 Jul 1988 1200 yes 60 110 SW -70°C 15.2
29 Jul 1988 1500 no 90 310 SW-W -61°C 13.5
29 Jul 1988 1800 no 80 430 SW-W -50°C 12.1
29 Jul 1988 2100 no 90 450 SW-W -- --
31 Jul 1988 0300 no 30 130 SW-W -49°C 11.9
31 Jul 1988 0600 no 20 60 SW -20°C 7.6
31 Jul 1988 0900 yes 50 210 SW -14°C 6.8
31 Jul 1988 1200 yes 40 130 W-SW -73°C 15.6

By the time of the next image, three hours later, the plume was detached from the volcano and was noticeably more diffuse. Possible volcanic plumes were also detected on GMS imagery returned 31 July (figures 1 and 3), but no ground reports of large eruption clouds are known at those times.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Temperature gradients in the clouds shown in figure 1. Makian is marked by a solid triangle. Courtesy of Y. Sawada.

Information Contacts: Y. Sawada, JMA.


November 1988 (SEAN 13:11) Citation IconCite this Report

More details on July-August eruption

. . . . The number of shallow volcanic earthquakes began to increase sharply on 20 July. Based on seismic and visual data, VSI anticipated that an eruption would begin within two weeks, and the 15,000 residents of Makian Island were evacuated to Moti Island, ~6 km to the N.

On 28 July, 521 seismic events were recorded, and tremor began . . . at 2200. The eruption started the next morning at 1112 with a continuous thunderous explosion that was clearly heard on Moti Island. A dark ash cloud reached 8-10 km height. On 30 July at 1006, an explosion was followed by nuées ardentes that advanced E (along the Ng. Powate valley) and N (Ng. Para valley). Originating from ~1,200 m asl, the nuées ardentes descended to 250 m altitude, and some finally reached the sea. A series of smaller explosions began on 31 July and continued until 6 August, feeding ash columns that decreased from 6 to 1-2 km above the crater.

As of the first week in December, white fume was still rising weakly from the crater. Seismicity continued to decrease, with 17 tectonic and 14 volcanic earthquakes recorded 1-7 December.

Information Contacts: VSI.


September 2001 (BGVN 26:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Brush fire leads to a falsely alleged 16-17 August 2001 eruption report

Makian was falsely alleged to have begun erupting at 1930 on 16 August 2001. The same Jakarta news article also reported that the volcano continued to spew lava on 17 August forcing residents to evacuate. The article also noted that hot ash and debris were ejected to a height of 20 m and dark clouds rose 75 m.

The Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI) later indicated that the report was false. An observer had mistakenly interpreted the glow from a brush fire as volcanic activity. VSI has not reported any recent volcanic activity at Makian.

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).; Darwin VAAC, Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811, Australia; Meteorological and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia (Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika, BMG), Jalan Angkasa I/2 Kemayoran, Jakarta Pusat 10720, Indonesia (URL: http://www.bmg.go.id/), Société Volcanologique Européenne.


July 2009 (BGVN 34:07) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity increased during May 2009 after tectonic earthquakes

Makian remained in repose as tectonic earthquakes striking the region preceded a cluster of volcanic earthquakes during May and early June 2009. Makian lies SW of the S-central portion of Halmahera Island (in the province of Maluku Utara). Some local residents refer to the island as Mt. Kie Besi; however, it is better known under the name of Mt. Makian (other variants include Kie Besi, Makjan, Makyan, and Wakiong).

The last eruption of Makian occurred in 1988 (SEAN 13:07, 13:08, 13:10, and 13:11) and created a volcanic dome or plug on the crater floor with a diameter of 600 m and volume of ~ 282,600 m3. The 1988 eruption led to the temporary evacuation of the island's 15,000 residents (SEAN 13:07). Not previously discussed in the Bulletin, the TOMS image archive shows several SO2 clouds from the 1988 eruption (during 30 July-5 August 1988) as well as visible and infrared imagery (Sawada, 1994).

The following information was translated from a Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) report dated 17 July 2009. Authorities raised the hazard status on 2 June 2009 (from normal, Alert Level 1 to 2) due to the following seismic and other observations.

The pattern of earthquakes and tremor, high for most of May 2009, decreased rapidly after the 28th (table 2). Hot explosions continued until at least mid-June from sulfurous vents on the S side of the lava dome. Emissions from these vents were off-white, with weak pressure, and they fed a plume reaching ~ 10 m above the peak.

Table 2. Seismicity recorded at Makian during 1 May-3 June 2009. Courtesy of Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM).

Date Deep volcanic earthquakes Shallow volcanic earthquakes Maximum tremor amplitude
01-28 May 2009 43 (2/day avg.) 18 (1/day avg.) 0.5-1 mm
29-31 May 2009 7 (2/day avg.) 13 (4/day avg.) 0.5-8 mm
01 June 2009 1 1 0.5-6 mm
02-03 June 2009 1-10/day 1-4/day --

An increase in tectonic earthquakes in the Maluku Utara (N Moluccas) region preceded the increased activity at Makian. No recent morphological changes have been observed. Based on observations up to 30 June 2009, the hazard status was downgraded to Alert Level 1 on 16 July. However, authorities still prohibited people from climbing to the peak.

The MODVOLC system had no recorded thermal alerts from Makian from at least the beginning of 2000 through August 2009.

Reference. Sawada, Y, 1994, Tracking of Regional Volcanic Ash Clouds by Geostationary Meteorological Satellite, in Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety, edited by Thomas J. Casadevall, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2047.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1988 Jul 29 - 1988 Aug 5 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1988 Jul 29 - 1988 Aug 5 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 11 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (volcanic) Before eruption.
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (volcanic)
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (volcanic) After eruption.
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1988 Jul 18    - - - - Evacuations
1988 Jul 29    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1890 Jun 20 - 1890 Jun 30 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption
1890 Jun 20 - 1890 Jun 30 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 11 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Lightning
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1890 Jun 20    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1890 Jun 29    - - - - Fatalities

1864 Oct - 1864 Oct Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption
1864 Oct - 1864 Oct Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"
1864 Oct    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1863 Aug 25 - 1863 Aug 31 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption
1863 Aug 25 - 1863 Aug 31 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"
1863 Aug 25    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1861 Dec 28 - 1862 Oct Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption
1861 Dec 28 - 1862 Oct Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 13 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lightning
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1861 Dec 28    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1861 Dec 29    - - - - Fatalities

[ 1860 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1860 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Ash Uncertain
1860    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1854 Jun 18 - 1854 Jun 18 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1854 Jun 18 - 1854 Jun 18 Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"
1854 Jun 18    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1760 Sep 22 - 1761 Apr 30 (in or after) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption
1760 Sep 22 - 1761 Apr 30 (in or after) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1760    - - - - Fatalities
1760 Sep 22    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1660 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1660 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

1646 Jul 19 - 1646 Jul 21 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption
1646 Jul 19 - 1646 Jul 21 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 9 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1646 Jul 19
(?)
   - - - - Fatalities
1646 Jul 19    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1608 - 1609 ] Discredited Eruption

1550 (in or before) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1550 (in or before) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Tsunami Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1550
(in or before)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Kie Besi.

Emission History

There is data available for 1 emission periods. Expand each entry for additional details.


Emissions during 1988 Jul 29 - 1988 Jul 29 [50 kt SO2 at 16 km altitude]

Start Date: 1988 Jul 29 Stop Date: 1988 Jul 29 Method: Satellite (Nimbus-7 TOMS)
SO2 Altitude Min: 16 km SO2 Altitude Max: 16 km Total SO2 Mass: 50 kt

Data Details

Date Start Date End Assumed SO2 Altitude SO2 Algorithm SO2 Mass
19880729 16.0 50.000
Photo Gallery

Makian volcano, one of a chain of islands off the western coast of Halmahera Island, has been the source of infrequent, but violent eruptions that have devastated villages on the 10-km-wide island. The 1357-m summit is truncated by a 1.5-km-wide crater containing a small crater lake on the NE side. Two large valleys, on the east and north sides, drain to the coast. Four flank cones occur on the west side.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.
Makian volcano, one of a chain of islands off the western coast of Halmahera Island, has been the source of infrequent, but violent eruptions that have devastated villages on the 10-km-wide island. The large summit crater containing a small crater lake on the NE side is drained by two steep-walled valleys. The northern valley, Barranco Ngopagita is seen in this view from the NW.

Photo by Ruska Hadian, 1985 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).
A vigorous eruption column rises above Makian volcano in this 1988 view from neighboring Moti Island. The six-day eruption began on July 29, producing eruption columns that reached 8-10 km altitude. Pyroclastic flows on the 30th reached the coast of the island, whose 15,000 residents had been evacuated. A flat-topped lava dome was extruded in the summit crater at the conclusion of the eruption.

Photo by Willem Rohi, 1988 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).
An ash plume rises above Indonesia's Makian volcano in this photo taken on 31 July 1988 from the neighboring Moti Island. The six-day eruption began on 29 July and produced ash plumes that reached 8-10 km altitude. Pyroclastic flows on the 30th reached the coast of the island where 15,000 residents had been evacuated. A lava dome was extruded in the summit crater at the end of the eruption.

Photo by Willem Rohi, 1988 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).
Two volcanoes of the North Maluku islands rise above the sea surface to the SW across the strait west of Halmahera Island. On the right is the 5-km-wide island of Moti, also known as Motir. The truncated, conical island is surrounded by coral reefs, and contains a crater on its SSW side. There are no confirmed historical eruptions from Moti, but flat-topped Makian volcano (left) has been the source of several powerful eruptions since the 16th century that have devastated the 10-km-wide island.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.
Makian volcano forms a 10-km-wide island near the southern end of a chain of volcanic islands off the western coast of Halmahera. The northern of two prominent valleys that extend from the summit is prominent in this photo. The large 1.5-km-wide summit crater containing a small lake on the NE side gives the 1357-m-high peak a flat-topped profile. Violent eruptions from Makian volcano, also known as Kie Besi, have devastated villages on the island.

Photo by Sumaryono (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).
GVP Map Holdings

The Global Volcanism Program has no maps available for Kie Besi.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Kie Besi in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites