The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has officially lowered the activity status level of Mount Awu, located in the Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. Effective Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 13:00 WITA, the volcano's status changed from Standby (Level III) to Alert (Level II).
Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lan Saria, explained that this decision was made based on an in-depth evaluation of recent monitoring data. Although it had shown fluctuating increases in seismic activity since April 2024, recent data indicates a flattening trend in volcanic activity in the area.
Visual analysis shows that smoke emissions from the crater remain stable and have not been observed rising above the summit. In addition, deformation data from tiltmeter instruments indicates a reduction in pressure accumulation at shallow depths, signaling that the potential danger of an eruption remains under control.
During the period from July 1 to 7, 2026, 116 shallow volcanic earthquakes were recorded, averaging 16 events per day. This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the surge in seismicity that occurred in May 2026. To date, no indications of fluid activity leading to an increased hazard at the crater surface have been found.
The public and visitors are urged to continue following directions from local authorities and monitoring official information from the Geological Agency. Although the alert level has been lowered, close monitoring of Mount Awu's volcanic activity will continue to ensure the safety of residents in the surrounding disaster-prone area.
