"Activity began 22 March at 0336 with a small phreatic eruption from the Tompaluan Crater . . . . A small (700,000 m³) crater lake within Tompaluan crater was ~60% evacuated during the 22 March eruption. A larger, phreatomagmatic eruption occurred on 24 March at 0343, emptying the remainder of the lake and throwing out incandescent ballistic blocks to heights of 800-1,000 m. Mudflows were produced during both eruptions. No casualties or damage have been reported. Small explosions occurred on 29 March at 1547 to 250 m height, at 1806 to 300 m, and at 1817 to 200 m. The VSI observation post is located at Kakaskasen, ~5 km SE of the volcano. The observatory has one vertical component seismometer, located at Lokon."

Geological Summary. The Lokong-Empung volcanic complex, rising above the plain of Tondano in North Sulawesi, includes four peaks and an active crater. Lokon, the highest peak, has a flat craterless top. The morphologically younger Empung cone 2 km NE has a 400-m-wide, 150-m-deep crater that erupted last in the 18th century. A ridge extending 3 km WNW from Lokon includes the Tatawiran and Tetempangan peaks. All eruptions since 1829 have originated from Tompaluan, a 150 x 250 m crater in the saddle between Lokon and Empung. These eruptions have primarily produced small-to-moderate ash plumes that sometimes damaged croplands and houses, but lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows have also occurred.

Information Contacts: Suratman, A. Sudradjat and T. Casadevall, VSI.