Awu Volcano, located on the northern end of Sangihe Island, Indonesia, is a highly active stratovolcano within the Sangihe volcanic arc. This complex geological setting, influenced by the subduction of the Molucca Sea plate beneath the Eurasian plate, drives Awu’s frequent and often explosive eruptive behavior. Historical records document significant eruptions characterized by devastating pyroclastic flows, lahars, and extensive ashfall (e.g., 1711, 1812, 1856, 1892, 1966), resulting in substantial loss of life
| Location: | Sangihe volcanic arc, Indonesia |
| Coordinates: | 3.681999, 125.454034 |
| Volcano Type: | Stratovolcano |
Awu’s Location
Awu’s Latest Status
2024: Level III (Alert)
Awu’s Eruptive History
| Year | Eruptive Activity |
|---|---|
| 1640 | Phreatic eruption, likely driven by steam explosions due to groundwater-magma interaction. |
| 1711 | Major eruption (VEI 4) characterized by pyroclastic flows, lahars, and likely the formation of a summit caldera. |
| 1812 | Major eruption (VEI 4) with extensive pyroclastic flows, significant casualties, and possible tsunami generation. |
| 1856 | Large phreatomagmatic eruption (VEI 3) caused by the violent interaction of magma with water, generating significant casualties. |
| 1892 | Large phreatomagmatic eruption (VEI 3), likely triggered by the presence of a crater lake, causing casualties. |
| 1966 | Major eruption (VEI 4) producing pyroclastic flows, lahars, and impacting the island’s population. |
| 2004 | Eruption with lava dome formation, potential for phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions, and ash emissions. |
| 2024 | The Alert Level is increased to Level III (Alert). Mt. Awu’s seismicity has been dominated by both shallow and deep volcanic earthquakes. SO2 is higher than normal and there has been steam rising off the lava dome. |
Awu Monitoring
For monitoring of Indonesian Volcanoes, please refer to PVMBG.
Awu Images
