PGA post urges residents to be alert to Karangetang pyroclastic flows

The Karangetang Volcano Observation Post head, Yudia P Tatipang, has urged residents to be alert to the potential for pyroclastic flows from Mount Karangetang on Siau Island, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi.

“Pyroclastic flows can occur because volcanic material continues to accumulate at the crater summit and then collapses,” Yudia said in Manado on Tuesday.

The potential for pyroclastic flows could occur at any time, especially as incandescent lava flows are still being observed at the northern crater summit (crater two).

“This must be watched out for, especially since volcanic material collapses can happen at any time,” he said.

According to observation data on Mount Karangetang activity for the period of 17 August 2026, crater two emitted thin white smoke with weak to moderate smoke pressure of approximately 25 metres, and a fire glow of approximately 10-25 metres.

A weak to moderately strong rumbling sound was accompanied by thin to moderately thick greyish-white smoke plumes leaning towards the north-northeast at approximately 25-100 metres.

Incandescent lava avalanches towards Kali Sumpihi were observed at approximately 100-700 metres, and at 11:00 WITA, observations from Kampung Pehe, West Siau District, noted vegetation between Kali Kinali and Hiung was burning.

At Level II (Alert) activity, residents and visitors/tourists are advised not to approach, not to climb, and not to carry out activities within the estimated danger zone, namely a radius of 1.5 kilometres from the summit of crater two (northern crater) and the main crater (southern), as well as the sectoral expansion area towards the north-west and south-west as far as 2.5 kilometres from the northern crater.