Evidence of landslides is found over the entire volcano, and sediment flows have been observed from ROVs. They form when material accumulated around vents becomes unstable and collapses. The landslides generate plumes of ash-rich water which can spread kilometres from the volcano. Such plumes are a unique trait of volcanism at NW Rota-1 and have been identified at Kavachi, Monowai, NW Rota-1 and West Mata submarine volcanoes.