Report on Kelimutu (Indonesia) — 12 November-18 November 2025
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 12 November-18 November 2025
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Kelimutu (Indonesia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 12 November-18 November 2025. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Kelimutu
Indonesia
8.77°S, 121.82°E; summit elev. 1639 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) reported another significant increase in the lake water temperature at Kelimutu’s Crater II (Tiwu Koofai Nuwamuri). The water temperature rose from 30.9 degrees Celsius (C) on 23 October, to 31.5 degrees C on 7 November, and then to 32.6 degrees C on 15 November. A minor sulfur odor accompanied the temperature increase along with the appearance of gas-and-steam on the lake’s surface. The color of the lake water had not changed, remaining light blue. There was no significant change in seismicity. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 1-4) and the public was advised to not approach the crater rim and to wear a mask due to the sulfur odor.
Geological Summary. Kelimutu is a small, but well-known, Indonesian compound volcano in central Flores Island with three summit crater lakes of varying colors. The western lake, Tiwi Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is commonly blue. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake), which share a common crater wall, are commonly colored green and red, respectively, although lake colors periodically vary. Active upwelling, probably fed by subaqueous fumaroles, occurs at the two eastern lakes. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination and have been the source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. The summit is elongated 2 km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido (3 km N) and Kelibara (2 km S).
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
