Mount Karangetang, located in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, has once again shown volcanic activity in the form of an effusive eruption on Sunday (12/7/2026) evening at around 19:30 WITA. This phenomenon caused incandescent lava to flow up to 700 meters to the northwest, triggering fires in the vegetation around the mountain slopes and crater.
Yudia Prama Tatipang, an officer at the Karangetang Volcano Observation Post, explained that the reddish glow visible in the sky above the summit was a reflection of the lava and burning reed grass caused by hot material. The 1,784-meter-high mountain was observed spewing incandescent lava up to approximately 400 meters high, leading authorities to set the volcano's status to Level II (Alert / Waspada).
To ensure safety, the public is strictly prohibited from engaging in activities or tourism within a 1.5-kilometer radius of the main crater and the second crater. The ban has also been extended to 2.5 kilometers to the south and southwest to anticipate the dangers of pyroclastic flows and unstable volcanic material accumulation. Downstream residents are also reminded to remain alert to the potential threats of rain-triggered lahars and flash floods.
Responding to the situation, Acting Regent of Sitaro, Heronimus Makainas, emphasized the importance of the public relying only on official information from PVMBG and related agencies. He urged residents not to be influenced by hoaxes spreading on social media and to strictly comply with all mitigation recommendations to minimize disaster risks for residents living along the mountain slopes.
