Geological Agency Downgrades Mount Awu's Status to Alert

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has lowered the activity status of Mount Awu in the Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, from Level III (Siaga) to Level II (Waspada).

Acting Head of the Geological Agency Lana Saria in Jakarta on Wednesday stated that the decision to lower the status took effect starting today, 8 July 2026, at 13.00 WITA.

“The activity level of Mount Awu has been lowered from Level III to Level II in line with a significant decrease in volcanic earthquakes,” she said.

The Mount Awu Volcano Observation Post team reported that seismic monitoring from 1 to 7 July 2026 recorded 116 shallow volcanic earthquakes, averaging 16 events per day, 17 deep volcanic earthquakes, 445 distant tectonic earthquakes, and one felt earthquake at scale I MMI.

Lana explained that the latest seismic monitoring data shows a decrease in activity compared to conditions in May 2026.

Furthermore, she said, based on deformation data using tiltmeter instruments, the accumulation of magma pressure at shallow depths within the volcano’s body also appears to have decreased.

Although the status has been lowered, the Geological Agency emphasised that a sudden increase in seismicity, especially in the form of volcanic earthquake swarms, still needs to be anticipated in the future, given that local volcanic and tectonic activity remains quite high.

Potential hazards that could occur at any time in the summit area include magmatic eruptions, phreatic eruptions, and the potential destruction of the lava dome if pressure within the magmatic system increases significantly again.

The Geological Agency has also issued the latest technical recommendations for the surrounding community, as well as tourists and climbers of Mount Awu, following the status downgrade.