Tonga Volcanoes
Tonga has 21 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Last Eruption | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|---|
Curacoa | Tonga Ridge | 1979 CE | Submarine |
Dugong | Northwest Lau Basin | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Submarine |
Fonuafo'ou | Tonga Ridge | 1936 CE | Submarine |
Fonualei | Tonga Ridge | 1957 CE | Stratovolcano |
Home Reef | Tonga Ridge | 2022 CE | Submarine |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | Tonga Ridge | 2022 CE | Submarine |
Kao | Tonga Ridge | 1847 CE | Stratovolcano |
Late | Tonga Ridge | 1854 CE | Stratovolcano |
Lateiki | Tonga Ridge | 2019 CE | Submarine |
Lobster | Northwest Lau Basin | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Submarine |
Niuafo'ou | Tonga Ridge | 1985 CE | Shield |
Niuatahi | Northeast Lau Basin (Tonga) | Unknown - Unrest / Holocene | Caldera |
Tafahi | Tonga Ridge | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Stratovolcano |
Tafu-Maka | Northeast Lau Basin | 2008 CE | Submarine |
Tofua | Tonga Ridge | 2023 CE | Caldera |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Unknown - Unrest / Holocene | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | 1932 CE | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | 2017 CE | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | 2019 CE | Submarine |
West Mata | Lau Rear-Arc | 2009 CE | Submarine |
Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in Tonga. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.
Volcano Name | Start Date | Stop Date | Certainty | VEI | Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Home Reef | 2022 Sep 10 | 2022 Oct 17 | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 2021 Dec 20 | 2022 Jan 15 | Confirmed | 5 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 2019 Oct 13 | 2019 Oct 22 | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 2019 Aug 6 | 2019 Aug 8 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Satellite (visual) |
Unnamed | 2017 Jan 23 | 2017 Jan 31 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 2015 Oct 2 | 2023 Apr 14 (continuing) | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 2014 Dec 19 | 2015 Jan 23 ± 3 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 2009 Mar 17 (?) | 2009 Mar 22 ± 1 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tafu-Maka | 2008 Nov 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2008 Nov 16 (?) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
West Mata | 2008 Nov 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2009 May 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Home Reef | 2006 Aug 7 | 2006 Aug 16 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 2004 Mar 19 | 2014 Oct 18 | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 2001 Sep 27 | 2001 Sep 28 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 1999 Jan 8 (in or before) | 1999 Jan 14 (?) | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1995 Jun 6 | 1995 Jun 23 ± 2 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | [1993 Apr 29] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Lateiki | 1991 Jun 24 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 1988 Jun 1 | 1988 Jun 3 (in or after) | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1985 Mar 21 | 1985 Mar 22 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Home Reef | 1984 Mar 1 | 1984 Mar 5 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Curacoa | 1979 May 14 | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1979 May 10 (in or before) | 1979 Jul 21 (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | [1974 Feb 16] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Curacoa | 1973 Jul 11 | 1973 Jul 16 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | [1970 Jan 3] | [1970 Jan 3] | Uncertain | ||
Lateiki | 1967 Dec 11 (in or before) | 1968 Jan 4 ± 4 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | [1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Tofua | 1958 Dec 31 ± 120 days | 1960 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | 1957 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Fonualei | 1951 Aug 21 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | [1947 Jan] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Niuafo'ou | 1946 Sep 9 | 1946 Sep 17 | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1943 Sep 26 | 1943 Oct 16 ± 30 days | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | 1939 Jun | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 1937 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | 1936 Jun | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1935 Dec 7 | 1936 Feb (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | 1933 Apr | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 1932 Dec 1 ± 30 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1929 Jul 25 | 1929 Jul 26 | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | 1927 Oct 4 | 1928 Sep (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 1923 Jul 1 | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | [1921 Nov] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Niuafo'ou | 1912 Oct 15 ± 5 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 1912 Apr 29 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 1911 Aug | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Unnamed | 1907 Jul | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1906 Dec | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | 1906 Mar | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Tofua | 1906 Jan | 1906 Feb | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | [1894 Dec] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Lateiki | [1894 (in or before)] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Niuafo'ou | 1887 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1886 Aug 31 | 1886 Sep 18 (?) | Confirmed | 4 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1886 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | 1885 Oct 12 (?) | 1886 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1885 Oct (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1878 Apr (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | 1877 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1867 Apr 12 | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | [1865] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Lateiki | 1858 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Home Reef | [1857] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Late | 1854 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1854 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Niuafo'ou | 1853 Jun 24 | 1853 Jun 24 (?) | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | [1852] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Home Reef | 1852 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1851 | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Kao | 1847 Jul 10 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1847 Jul 10 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | 1846 Jun 11 (?) | 1846 Oct 10 (in or after) | Confirmed | 4 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1845 Jul 1 ± 60 days | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Niuafo'ou | 1814 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tofua | 1792 | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Fonualei | 1791 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Late | 1790 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Lateiki | 1781 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Fonuafo'ou | [1781] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Fonualei | [1780 (in or before)] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Tofua | 1774 Jun | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai | 1110 ± 70 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (calibrated) |
Tonga has 29 Pleistocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|
Ata Volcanic Complex | Tonga Ridge | Unknown |
East Mata | Lau Rear-Arc | Submarine |
Feinga Seamount | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Niua Volcanic Complex | Tonga Islands | Submarine |
Niuatoputapu | Tonga Islands | Stratovolcano |
Northern Matas | Lau Rear-Arc | Volcanic field |
Toku | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
Unnamed | Tonga Ridge | Submarine |
There are 20 photos available for volcanoes in Tonga.

Courtesy of NSF and NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, 2009.

Aerial photo by Tonga Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Natural Resources, 1991 (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Aerial photo by Tonga Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Natural Resources, 1990 (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Photo by A. Thompson (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Photo by Roger Matthews, 2006 (published in GVN Bulletin).

Photo by Charles Lundquist, 1968 (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory).

Photo by P.J.R. Shepherd (Royal New Zealand Air Force; courtesy of John Latter, DSIR, published in SEAN Bull., 1984).

Courtesy of NSF and NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, 2009.

NASA International Space Station image ISS008-E-14026, 2004 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

Photo by Fredrik Fransson, 2006.

Aerial photo by Tonga Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Natural Resources, 1990 (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Photo courtesy of Royal New Zealand Air Force and Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences, 2006.

Photo by the crew of the vessel "Port Nicholson," 1973 (courtesy of Tom Simkin, Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Paul Taylor (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Photo by Paul Taylor (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Courtesy of NSF and NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, 2009.

Photo by B. Hutchins, 1999 (published in Taylor, 1999).

Photo by Paul Taylor (published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997).

Courtesy of NOAA Vents Program, 2008.

Courtesy of NSF and NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, 2009.
This is a compilation of Tonga volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.
Volcano Observatories | |
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Tonga Geological Services, Government of Tonga | ![]() |
Tonga Meteorological Services, Government of Tonga | ![]() |
Additional Information Sources | |
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Government of Tonga | |
Consulate of the Kingdom of Tonga | ![]() |
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center | |
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Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) | |
- Wellington VAAC Notices |