Pumice from Titan Ridge eruption blocks sea access in Manus Province, Papua New Guinea

Large raft of pumice field from the Titan Ridge submarine volcano drifting ashore of Loniu, Manus - June 2026. Credit: Stanis Pwam (stillshot) Residents reported disruption to fishing, markets, healthcare access, and potential food and fresh-water shortages after pumice reached Manus coastal villages over the past weekend. ABC reported that floating volcanic rock covered much of the surrounding sea near affected communities, while Reuters reported blocked boats, damaged fishing grounds, disrupted sea transport to Lorengau, and concerns about food shortages on Manus Island. PNG’s Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, Geohazards Management Division (DMPGM), reported that eruptive activity at Titan Ridge decreased between June 4 and June 9, while a thin, dense steam plume extended about 50 km (31 miles) NW and remotely sensed thermal anomalies increased. Hydroacoustic data from station H11 South recorded 141 signals on June 6 and 212 signals on June 8. The Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) reported that the eruption continued during May 28–June 4 after a short decrease in activity, with hydroacoustic signals rising during May 28–29 and semi-continuous activity resuming. By June 1, a steam plume rose from part of the NE vent area, discolored water drifted as far as 8 km (5 miles) SE, hot pumice floated within a few hundred meters of the vent, and eruption plumes reached as high as 5 km (3.1 miles) above sea level during June 2–4. Reuters reported on June 10 that thick pumice rafts had blocked boats, damaged fishing grounds, disrupted sea transport to Lorengau, and raised concerns about food shortages among remote coastal communities on Manus Island. Residents described pumice lining parts of the coast 2–3 m (7–10 feet) deep, while Timoenai head teacher Michael Kuam said outboard motors could not be used where pumice had stacked up in some areas. ABC reported that Baon residents were unable to travel to market, fish, or use normal boat routes to reach health clinics after pumice covered much of the surrounding sea. Councilor Raymond Simeku told ABC that one boat nearly sank while trying to pass through the pumice, and residents were using drinking water for bathing because they could no longer wash in the sea. Locals in Papua New Guinea struggled to row their boats on volcanic pumice-laden waters in Manus province after an undersea eruption, fueling fears of food shortages https://t. co/Q2ou045jFm pic. twitter. com/zr2FuznMsp — Reuters (@Reuters) June 10, 2026 Titan Ridge submarine volcano eruption site on June 11, 2026. Credit: CopernicusEU/Sentinel-2, The Watchers Prime Minister James Marape directed government agencies to assess undersea volcanic activity in waters around Manus after pumice rafts from the ongoing submarine eruption reached Manus shores and disrupted sea travel, The National reported.