Heightened dome activity at Mayon stood out today, driving dozens of pyroclastic flows and strong gas output. Kilauea and Great Sitkin held at Watch/Aviation ORANGE, while Indonesia featured frequent explosions at Ibu and Lewotolok. Compared to yesterday, notable status shifts included Sangay moving to increased eruptive activity, Pavlof reverting to unrest, and Lewotobi shifting from eruption to unrest.
United States
Great Sitkin (Watch / Aviation ORANGE) continued slow lava effusion within the summit crater. Kilauea (Watch / Aviation ORANGE) also sustained its eruption. In the Aleutians, Pavlof and Shishaldin remained in unrest (Advisory / Aviation Yellow).
Indonesia
Halmahera’s Ibu logged 103 explosions with ash-and-gas rising to 500 m, while Lewotolok produced 277 explosions and two rockfalls with plumes to 350 m. Dukono recorded three explosions; several others including Marapi, Merapi, and Semeru stayed active at Level 2–3. Unrest persisted at Gamalama and Kerinci, and Lewotobi emitted low gas-and-vapor plumes about 100 m above the vent.
Philippines
At Mayon (Alert Level 3), dome-collapse activity generated 72 pyroclastic density currents and 338 rockfalls; lava effusion increased, crater glow was visible, and SO2 averaged 4,970 t/d as RSAM spiked then eased. Evacuations totaled 4,139 people within the 6-km zone by late 16 January. Kanlaon remained at Alert Level 2, and Taal at Alert Level 1.
Mexico
Popocatepetl maintained low-level eruptive activity (Yellow Alert – Phase 2).
South America
Activity persisted at several Andean volcanoes: Ecuador’s Sangay shifted to increased eruptive activity, while nearby Reventador continued. Peru’s Sabancaya and Colombia’s Purace also remained in eruption.
Other
In Costa Rica, Poas saw activity increase (Level 2 – Warning; Aviation Yellow). Unrest was also elevated at Turrialba (Level 2 – Warning), and Rincon de la Vieja stayed at Level 2.
Source: Smithsonian/USGS GVP Daily Volcanic Activity Report (16 January 2026).
Activity Summary for 16 January 2026
| Volcano | Country | Activity Type | Keynotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dukono | Indonesia | Eruption | 3 seismically detected explosions; eruption ongoing. |
| Great Sitkin | United States | Eruption | Lava effusing slowly in summit crater. |
| Ibu | Indonesia | Eruption | 103 explosions; ash/gas plumes to 500 m. |
| Kilauea | United States | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Watch / Aviation ORANGE. |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Moderate Unrest. |
| Lewotolok | Indonesia | Eruption | 277 explosions; ash/gas plumes to 350 m; 2 rockfalls. |
| Marapi | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 2 – Alert. |
| Mayon | Philippines | Eruption | 72 PDCs from dome collapse; 338 rockfalls; SO2 4,970 t/d. |
| Merapi | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 3 – Standby. |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Yellow Alert – Phase 2. |
| Poas | Costa Rica | Eruption | Activity increased; Level 2 – Warning; Aviation Yellow. |
| Purace | Colombia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level Orange. |
| Reventador | Ecuador | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 3 – Orange. |
| Sabancaya | Peru | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level Orange. |
| Sangay | Ecuador | Eruption | Activity increased; Alert Level 2 – Yellow. |
| Semeru | Indonesia | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Level 3 – Standby. |
| Taal | Philippines | Eruption | Eruption ongoing; Alert Level 1 – Low-Level Unrest. |
| Gamalama | Indonesia | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert. |
| Kerinci | Indonesia | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert. |
| Lewotobi | Indonesia | Unrest | Gas-and-vapor plumes to 100 m; unrest ongoing. |
| Pavlof | United States | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Advisory / Aviation Yellow. |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Warning. |
| Shishaldin | United States | Unrest | Ongoing unrest; Advisory / Aviation Yellow. |
| Turrialba | Costa Rica | Unrest | Unrest increased; Level 2 – Warning. |