During 9 March-24 May visual observations suggested stable conditions, with a "white ash plume" rising 25-75 m above the crater rim. But the seismic record showed extreme variation. Between 9 March and 23 March, volcanic A-type events increased from 7 to 53 and volcanic B-type events rose from 15 to 64. Tectonic events decreased from 34 to 17 in that same period. During the week of 23-29 March event numbers dropped to 23 for A-type and 43 for B-type. Tectonic events rose to 35. Weekly event incidence declined in May, hovering under 10 for A-type, under 20 for B-type, and under 25 for tectonic.

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