“NTU Study Finds Singapore at Tsunami Risk from Regional Undersea Volcanic Eruptions “

A recent study by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) reveals that Singapore could face tsunami threats triggered by undersea volcanic eruptions in the region. The research pinpoints two undersea volcanoes in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, located in the Andaman Sea between Sumatra and Myanmar, which could generate tsunamis that impact Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar through the Malacca Strait.

The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences in April 2024, highlights that one of these volcanoes, Barren Island, has a history of partial collapses, which can lead to dangerous lateral blasts and tsunamis similar to the 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau.

In addition, another undersea volcano in the northern South China Sea, KW-23612, poses a potential threat. This volcano, with a massive 7 km-wide caldera, lies just 200 meters below the surface. Initial simulations suggest that an eruption could produce a tsunami reaching Singapore, possibly affecting coastal areas with strong currents and minor flooding, particularly in Changi.

The NTU team mapped 466 undersea volcanoes across Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the goal of identifying and researching high-risk sites to help improve regional preparedness.