Explosive and effusive activity stood out today, with Guatemala’s volcanoes producing frequent bursts while steady lava and glow persisted in Alaska and Hawaii. Fuego and Santa Maria generated regular explosions and ash plumes, and Purace lofted ash to 1.6 km amid ongoing degassing. Compared with yesterday, Shishaldin is now classified as erupting, and new ash was noted at Purace, Reventador, Ibu, Semeru, and Dukono.
United States
Alaska’s Great Sitkin (Aviation ORANGE) sustained lava effusion at the summit. Hawaii’s Kilauea (Aviation ORANGE) showed glow and intermittent spatter from its northern and southern vents alongside tremor. Shishaldin is classed as erupting and holds Aviation YELLOW, with no new ash reported.
Indonesia
Ibu and Semeru produced numerous explosions (91 and 172, respectively) with ash rising up to 800 m; Dukono sent ash 400 m above the vent. Elevated but quieter conditions persisted at Lewotobi (Level 3) and at Merapi, Marapi, Lewotolok, and Raung (Level 2) without notable ash. Unrest continued at Karangetang (Level 2).
Philippines
Kanlaon produced plumes to 700 m (Level 2). Taal emitted low plumes to 20 m (Level 1). Unrest at Mayon (Level 1) included summit incandescence, eight seismically detected rockfalls, and plumes to 400 m.
Mexico
Popocatepetl remained at Yellow Alert – Phase 2.
South America
Colombia’s Purace produced ash to 1.6 km and persistent degassing from a crater-wall fissure, with thermal anomalies detected. Ecuador’s Reventador sent ash up to 1 km and showed multiple thermal hotspots, while Sangay stayed at Alert Level 2 – Yellow. Peru’s Sabancaya emitted low gas plumes and registered modest seismicity with thermal anomalies.
Other
In Guatemala, Fuego generated up to six explosions per hour with ash to 737 m, audible booms, and incandescent ejecta. Nearby, Santa Maria produced ash to 900 m, up to three explosions per hour, and incandescent rockfalls.
Source: Smithsonian/USGS GVP Daily Volcanic Activity Report (23 December 2025).
Activity Summary for 23 December 2025
| Volcano | Country | Activity Type | Keynotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dukono | Indonesia | Eruption | Ash-and-gas plumes to 400 m; 2 explosions. |
| Fuego | Guatemala | Eruption | Up to 6 explosions/hr; ash to 737 m; booms and incandescent ejecta. |
| Great Sitkin | United States | Eruption | Lava effusion ongoing. |
| Ibu | Indonesia | Eruption | 91 explosions; ash to 800 m; gas plumes to 200 m. |
| Kilauea | United States | Eruption | Glow and intermittent spatter at N and S vents; tremor. |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | Eruption | Plumes to 700 m. |
| Lewotobi | Indonesia | Eruption | Gas-and-steam plumes to 100 m. |
| Lewotolok | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Alert. |
| Marapi | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Alert. |
| Merapi | Indonesia | Eruption | Gas-and-steam plumes to 25 m. |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Yellow Alert – Phase 2. |
| Purace | Colombia | Eruption | Ash to 1.6 km; persistent fissure degassing; thermal anomalies. |
| Raung | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Alert. |
| Reventador | Ecuador | Eruption | Ash to 1 km; thermal anomalies detected. |
| Sabancaya | Peru | Eruption | Gas-and-steam plumes to 300 m; seismicity recorded; thermal anomalies. |
| Sangay | Ecuador | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Yellow. |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | Eruption | Up to 3 explosions/hr; ash to 900 m; incandescent rockfalls. |
| Semeru | Indonesia | Eruption | 172 explosions; ash to 800 m; 1 flowage event detected. |
| Shishaldin | United States | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Aviation YELLOW. |
| Taal | Philippines | Eruption | Plumes to 20 m. |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert. |
| Mayon | Philippines | Unrest | Plumes to 400 m; 8 rockfalls; summit incandescence. |