Ambrym Volcano erupted this morning (January 8, 2026) ending a dormancy period of over a year. At approximately 6:50 AM local time, seismic networks and satellite monitoring detected a pulse of activity, marked by a distinct ash plume rising from the caldera.
Imagery from the Himawari-9 satellite indicates the plume reached an altitude of 6km, drifting southwest toward Port Vatu and Craig Cove. Speaking to Extreme Pursuit, local villagers reported heavy, pungent, ash-laden rain following the event. This is the first confirmed activity since the Benbow Crater eruption in November 2024.
Due to dense cloud cover, the exact origin of the eruption remains unclear; while it likely stems from the Benbow or Marum cones, activity outside these main vents cannot be ruled out. Currently, no thermal anomalies or significant ground uplift have been recorded in the latest data.
Authorities have maintained Alert Level 2 (Major Unrest), warning that further significant activity could occur with little notice.