Volcanic activity at Mount Ibu in North Maluku increased again on Tuesday (7/7/2026). According to a report from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the volcano was observed erupting at 17:43 WIT, spewing a column of ash 200 meters above the peak.
The observed ash was gray and thick, moving towards the northeast. Seismograph recordings showed the eruption had a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters with a duration of 61 seconds.
As of now, Mount Ibu's status remains at Level II (Alert). Seismic activity recorded throughout the day indicates increased intensity, including 78 eruption earthquakes, as well as various other micro-tectonic activities such as harmonic and low-frequency earthquakes, signaling that magma dynamics below the surface remain quite active.
PVMBG reiterated the ban on residents and tourists from conducting activities within a 2-kilometer radius of the crater center. Specifically for the northern crater opening, the danger radius has been extended to 3.5 kilometers to avoid the risk of ejected volcanic materials.
Of note, throughout 2026, Mount Ibu was recorded as one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia with a total of 1,006 eruptions. Data from MAGMA Indonesia shows that this eruption frequency places Mount Ibu second after Mount Semeru on the list of volcanoes with the most eruptions in the country.
