Axial Seamount volcano set to erupt off Oregon coast for first time since 2015
Share and Follow

A volcano under the sea, located 300 miles away from Oregon, is showing signs that it could erupt soon. The last time it erupted was in 2015. Scientists have observed an increase in seismic activity, with over 1,000 earthquakes happening daily in the area. If it erupts, it is expected to release highly fluid lava into the ocean.

Axial Seamount has exhibited increasing volcanic activity, with scientists able to measure the swelling of the underwater structure in the Pacific Ocean — indicating that the top could blow off with lava any time between now and the end of the year, NBC reported.

“This volcano is similar to ones in Hawaii that erupt very fluid lavas,” Bill Chadwick, volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, told the outlet.

“They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the sea floor is actually rising, and that’s a big signal.”

In 2015, Axial Seamount had a massive eruption that leaked out a surreal amount of magma, with one lava flow measuring 450 feet thick, the report stated.

“For reference, that’s about two-thirds the height of the Space Needle in Seattle,” Chadwick explained. “That’s a lot of lava.”

Despite the intensity of the explosion, the volcano poses no threat to humans.

Shockingly, the Axial Seamount, located 4,626 feet below sea level, is so deep underwater that an eruption may not even be noticeable from the waters just above, scientists said.

“Even if you were out on a boat right over the seamount when it’s erupting, you probably would never know it,” Chadwick told NBC News.

The underwater spewer is located between the two tectonic plates that are separating — which puts pressure on the seafloor, fueling volcanic activity.

Axial Seamount has erupted three times in the past 30 years — in 1998, 2011, and 2015.

The submarine volcano isn’t the only seismic activity West Coasters may have in store.

Hundreds of miles of Pacific Northwest coastline could tumble into the sea if the Cascadia Subduction Zone, an undersea fault line about 100 miles off the North American coast, is hit by “The Big One,” according to a recent study.

The 600-mile earthquake hotspot could see shorelines from northern California to Vancouver, Canada, sinking 6 feet or more.

Luckily, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is “located quite a distance away” from Axial Seamount, Forbes reported Friday — so there shouldn’t be fears of an Earth-shaking one-two punch.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Passengers baffled and confused after screams burst from beneath taxiing Air Canada plane

Passengers Perplexed as Unexpected Screams Erupt During Air Canada Taxiing Incident

Last month, an unsettling episode left passengers on a taxiing aircraft in…
US launches wave of strikes in Somalia targeting ISIS, al-Shabab terror threats

United States Commences Strategic Strikes in Somalia Aimed at ISIS and al-Shabab Terror Networks

The United States intensified its aerial assault in Somalia this January, focusing…
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, or OBAP, celebrates 50 years, partners with American Airlines

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact: OBAP Teams Up with American Airlines for a New Era in Black Aerospace Excellence

CHICAGO — A pioneering initiative aimed at supporting Black pilots is marking…
Nathan Chasing Horse, right, talks to his attorney Craig Mueller during his trial on charges of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Trial Date Approaches for ‘Dances with Wolves’ Actor Nathan Chasing Horse in Child Sexual Abuse Case

The trial of Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in “Dances…
From tech to tea culture: How Paper Son Coffee honors a Chinese American legacy

Celebrating Chinese American Heritage: Paper Son Coffee’s Journey from Tech to Tea Traditions

On a bustling morning at Paper Son Coffee in San Francisco, Alex…
Three men arrested after string of vehicle burglaries in Jacksonville Beach

Trio Nabbed in Connection with Jacksonville Beach Car Break-Ins

In a recent wave of vehicle burglaries, Jacksonville Beach police apprehended three…
Iran regime opened fire with live ammunition on protesters, doctor says: ‘Shoot-to-kill’

Iranian Authorities Accused of Using Live Rounds on Protesters, Doctor Reports ‘Shoot-to-Kill’ Tactics

In a troubling escalation of violence, Iranian security forces have reportedly shifted…
Jamie Dimon warns Trump's Fed intervention will backfire

Jamie Dimon Sounds the Alarm: Why Trump’s Fed Interference Could Spell Economic Trouble

JP Morgan’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, has issued a caution against the Trump…