Kilauea pauses as Popocatepetl shifts to Orange; Indonesia stays busy

Frequent explosive activity in Indonesia and Guatemala stood out today, while Hawaii’s Kilauea slipped into a pause. Popocatepetl’s ground alert shifted to Orange, and Italy’s Stromboli showed both Strombolian bursts and effusive lava.

United States
Great Sitkin (Watch / Aviation ORANGE) kept slow lava effusion inside the summit crater with weak steaming; rockfalls from the growing dome were detected. At Kilauea (Advisory / Aviation YELLOW), eruptive activity paused, but glow persisted at vents and the crater-floor flows stayed incandescent. Unrest at Shishaldin (Advisory / Aviation YELLOW) produced vapor plumes, SO2 degassing, and intermittent thermal anomalies.

Indonesia
Halmahera’s Dukono and Ibu were notably noisy, with 82 and 126 explosions respectively; ash rose up to 1.5 km at Dukono and to 600 m at Ibu. Farther south, Semeru tallied 74 explosions with ash to 800 m, while Merapi shed hot avalanches reaching 2 km and Marapi produced two explosions. On Flores and Lembata, Lewotobi and Lewotolok emitted low gas plumes and minor rockfalls. Several others were in unrest at Indonesia’s Level 2 Alert, including Krakatau, Kerinci, Raung, and more.

Philippines
At Mayon (Alert Level 3), lava effusion kept three flows active at 3.8 km (Basud), 3.2 km (Bonga), and 1.6 km (Mi-isi), with minor Strombolian bursts and numerous rockfalls; occasional PDC-related signals were recorded. Nearby, Kanlaon logged seven ash emissions with plumes to 600 m and SO2 at 1,891 t/d. Low-level unrest persisted at Taal (Alert Level 1) and Bulusan (Alert Level 1), with diffuse plumes, minor seismicity, and ongoing inflation.

Mexico
Popocatepetl shifted to an Orange alert as ash-and-gas emissions continued; a M1.5 volcano-tectonic quake was recorded.

South America
In Ecuador, Reventador and Sangay produced frequent explosions and ash plumes (to 1 km and 800 m, respectively), along with incandescent rockfalls. Peru’s Sabancaya sent ash-and-gas up to 1.2 km and showed occasional thermal anomalies.

Europe
Italy’s Stromboli (Aviation ORANGE) featured classic Strombolian bursts alongside effusive lava, with rockfalls and tremor.

Other
In Guatemala, Fuego averaged up to 13 explosions per hour, lofting ash to 937 m and throwing incandescent material with accompanying rockfalls, while Santa Maria produced up to two explosions per hour with ash to 800 m and persistent dome glow. In Costa Rica, degassing persisted at Poas, while Rincon de la Vieja and Turrialba remained at Level 2 (Warning) with Aviation Yellow.

Source: Smithsonian/USGS Daily Volcanic Activity Report for 6 May 2026.

Activity Summary for 6 May 2026

Volcano Country Activity Type Keynotes
Dukono Indonesia Eruption 82 explosions; ash plumes to 1.5 km.
Fuego Guatemala Eruption Up to 13 explosions/hr; ash to 937 m; incandescent ejecta and rockfalls.
Great Sitkin United States Eruption Slow lava effusion in summit crater; weak steaming; rockfalls from the dome.
Ibu Indonesia Eruption 126 explosions; ash plumes to 600 m; gas-and-steam to 200 m.
Kilauea United States Paused Eruption paused; crater-floor lava incandescent; glow at vents, occasional flames.
Kanlaon Philippines Eruption 7 ash emissions, 7–70 min; ash to 600 m; SO2 1,891 t/d.
Lewotobi Indonesia Eruption Gas plumes to 100 m; single rockfall; isolated LF and gas-emission quakes.
Lewotolok Indonesia Eruption Gas plumes to 100 m; 50 rockfalls.
Marapi Indonesia Eruption 2 explosions detected.
Mayon Philippines Eruption Lava effusion, flows 3.8/3.2/1.6 km; minor Strombolian bursts; numerous rockfalls, occasional PDC signals.
Merapi Indonesia Eruption 4 hot avalanches to 2 km; 121 rockfalls.
Popocatepetl Mexico Eruption Ash-and-gas emissions; M1.5 VT quake.
Poas Costa Rica Eruption Gas-and-steam plumes; ongoing fumarolic activity.
Reventador Ecuador Eruption 98 explosions; ash to 1 km; incandescent rockfalls to 1 km.
Sabancaya Peru Eruption Ash-and-gas plumes to 1.2 km; low-level seismicity; thermal anomalies.
Sangay Ecuador Eruption 161 explosions; ash to 800 m; incandescent rockfalls to 200 m.
Santa Maria Guatemala Eruption Up to 2 explosions/hr; ash to 800 m; dome glow and incandescent rockfalls.
Semeru Indonesia Eruption 74 explosions; ash to 800 m; minor rockfalls.
Stromboli Italy Eruption Strombolian bursts with effusion; lava flow, incandescent ejecta; rockfalls and tremor.
Taal Philippines Eruption Diffuse plumes; 2 volcanic quakes; inflation persists.
Awu Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam plume to 100 m.
Bulusan Philippines Unrest Gas-and-steam to 100 m; 10 volcanic quakes; inflation noted.
Bur ni Telong Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Dempo Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Gamalama Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Karangetang Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 700 m; gas-emission tremor signals.
Kerinci Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Krakatau Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Lokon-Empung Indonesia Unrest Weak gas plume 25 m.
Raung Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Rincon de la Vieja Costa Rica Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Warning; Aviation YELLOW.
Sangeang Api Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Shishaldin United States Unrest Vapor plumes; SO2 degassing; thermal anomalies.
Slamet Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Alert Level 2 – Alert.
Soputan Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 20 m.
Sorikmarapi Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 30 m.
Turrialba Costa Rica Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Warning; Aviation YELLOW.
Ijen Indonesia Background Gas-and-steam to 100 m.
Tangkuban Parahu Indonesia Background Gas-and-steam emissions.