ESDM: Seismic Activity at Mount Awu in Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, Increases

Manado (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) states that seismic activity at Mount Awu in Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi (Sulut), has increased. “Monitoring of seismic activity on 4 May 2025 showed an increase in shallow volcanic earthquakes reaching 74 events,” said Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, in a report shared by the Head of the Centre for Volcano Monitoring and Landslide Disaster Mitigation for Sulawesi and Maluku, Geological Agency, Juliana DJ Rumambi, in Manado on Wednesday. Meanwhile, from 00:00 to 12:00 WITA on 5 May 2025, 15 shallow volcanic earthquakes, two deep volcanic earthquakes, and 23 distant tectonic earthquakes were recorded. Low-frequency earthquakes related to fluid flow have not yet been recorded. Plume emissions from the crater were observed as thin to moderate white smoke with heights ranging from 20 to 200 metres above the lava dome. In addition to the still above-normal activity of Mount Awu, this increase in seismic activity is estimated to also be influenced by the rise in tectonic earthquakes in the North Sulawesi and North Maluku regions since April 2026. This increase in seismic activity needs to be heeded given the potential hazards from Mount Awu, which could include magmatic or phreatic eruptions. Potential dismantling of the lava dome could also occur if pressure in the magmatic system experiences a significant increase. Given the increase in shallow volcanic earthquakes and the activity level still at Level II (Alert), the public is recommended not to enter or conduct activities within a 3-kilometre radius of the Mount Awu crater centre. The public is urged to remain calm and comply with recommendations issued by the Geological Agency through the Centre for Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, and not to be swayed by untrue and irresponsible news regarding Mount Awu’s activity. Mount Awu is an active volcano located in Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province. Seismic activity at Mount Awu has tended to increase since April 2024, particularly in shallow volcanic earthquakes. A swarm of volcanic earthquakes occurred on 24 August 2024 and 25 August 2024, where 364 shallow volcanic earthquakes were recorded.