Report on Bur ni Telong (Indonesia) — 1 January-7 January 2026
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 January-7 January 2026
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2026. Report on Bur ni Telong (Indonesia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 January-7 January 2026. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Bur ni Telong
Indonesia
4.769°N, 96.821°E; summit elev. 2617 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) reported increased seismicity at Bur ni Telong on 30 December. A M 4.5 earthquake was detected at 2043 on 30 December and located about 5 km SW of the summit. The earthquake was followed by an increase in the number of deep volcanic earthquakes (VA) and shallow volcanic earthquakes (VB) beneath the volcano; by 2130 the seismic network had recorded 12 VAs, seven VBs, and one local tectonic earthquake. Four earthquakes were felt. Six more earthquakes located about 5 km SW were detected by 2245. Seismicity began to increase in July 2025, with events progressively getting stronger and closer to the surface, especially during November-December. At 2245 the Alert level was raised to 3 (the second highest level on a scale of 1-4) and the public was warned to stay 4 km away from the crater area and to avoid the fumarole and solfatara regions, especially during cloudy or rainy weather. According to news reports about 2,000 residents evacuated, mainly from Rembune (3 km WSW) and Pantan Pediangan (3 km W). A total of 16 earthquakes were recorded during 30-31 December, though seismicity decreased through the day on 31 December. On 3 January PVMBG lowered the Alert Level to 2 and the public was warned to stay 3 km away from the crater.
Geological Summary. The conical Bur ni Telong volcano was constructed at the southern base of the massive Bur ni Geureudong volcanic complex, one of the largest in northern Sumatra. The historically active volcano lies 4.5 km from the summit of Geureudong,and its summit crater has migrated to the ESE, leaving arcuate crater rims. Lava flows are exposed on the southern flank. Explosive eruptions were recorded during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Antara News, Antara News
