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Report on Peuet Sague (Indonesia) — January 2001


Peuet Sague

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 26, no. 1 (January 2001)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.

Peuet Sague (Indonesia) 1999 activity continues through 14 June; explosions in late December 2000

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2001. Report on Peuet Sague (Indonesia) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 26:1. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN200101-261030



Peuet Sague

Indonesia

4.903°N, 96.289°E; summit elev. 2785 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Peuet Sague's 1999 activity (BGVN 24:05) was reported to have continued, although at a decreased level, through 14 June 1999. A malfunctioning seismograph prevented instrumental monitoring in late May, but thin white gas-and-steam plumes that rose ~15 m were visible. During the first week in June plumes continued to rise to heights of 20 m. Rumbling was heard on 18 occasions, and plumes continued to rise through 14 June.

The VSI did not release further reports until renewed activity began at 0800 on 25 December 2000 with the first of three explosions. A second explosion occurred at 1310, and a third one followed at 1130 on 26 December. The explosions generated ash that spread over a relatively large area. Ashfall occurred on Geumpang, Lutung, Mane, and Bangke villages up to 20 km away. An observer from the village of Trans reported having seen glowing lava flows at night. Reported emissions ceased for the remainder of 2000, and the hazard status stayed at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Geological Summary. Peuet Sague is a large volcanic complex in NW Sumatra. The volcano, whose name means "square," contains four summit peaks, with the youngest lava dome being located to the N or NW. This extremely isolated volcano lies several days journey on foot from the nearest village and is infrequently visited. The first recorded historical eruption took place from 1918-21, when explosive activity and pyroclastic flows accompanied summit lava-dome growth. The active crater is located NE of the Gunung Tutung lava dome and has typically produced small-to-moderate explosive eruptions.

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).