In a press release for Awu, PVMBG reported that both the number and intensity of earthquake events increased during 29-31 January; the signals possibly indicated the movement of magma to shallower depths. Inflation had been recorded since June 2023 and was ongoing. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 3 km away from the summit crater.

Geological Summary. The massive Gunung Awu stratovolcano occupies the northern end of Great Sangihe Island, the largest of the Sangihe arc. Deep valleys that form passageways for lahars dissect the flanks of the volcano, which was constructed within a 4.5-km-wide caldera. Powerful explosive eruptions in 1711, 1812, 1856, 1892, and 1966 produced devastating pyroclastic flows and lahars that caused more than 8000 cumulative fatalities. Awu contained a summit crater lake that was 1 km wide and 172 m deep in 1922, but was largely ejected during the 1966 eruption.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)