Mayon escalates with new lava dome, PDCs as Kilauea and Great Sitkin stay ORANGE

A surge at Mayon dominated today’s activity, with a new dark lava dome, the onset of a lava flow, and scores of pyroclastic flows. Compared to yesterday, Mayon escalated, ash was newly reported at Dukono and Ibu, while ash was not noted today at Lewotolok, Sabancaya, and Purace. Elsewhere, high-frequency explosions continued at Fuego and Semeru, and Kilauea and Great Sitkin remained at Watch with Aviation ORANGE.

United States
Kilauea (Watch / Aviation ORANGE) showed occasional spattering at the north vent and intermittent night glow from both vents. Great Sitkin (Watch / Aviation ORANGE) kept a slow lava effusion confined to the summit crater. At Shishaldin (Advisory / Aviation YELLOW), unrest persisted without new eruptive observations.

Indonesia
Level 4 activity persisted at Lewotobi, with gas-and-steam rising to 200 m. Ash-producing explosions were vigorous at Semeru (Level 3), which logged 118 explosions and ash to 800 m, and at Ibu (Level 2), where ash rose to 600 m with 103 explosions. Ash was also reported at Dukono; meanwhile Merapi (Level 3) produced seismically detected pyroclastic density currents. Several others showed unrest or low plumes, including Lewotolok, Marapi, Kerinci, Raung, Lokon-Empung, Soputan, Talang, Iliwerung, Gamalama, and Awu; Egon stayed at Level 1 (Normal).

Philippines
Mayon (Alert Level 3) unveiled a new lava dome and an incipient lava flow; 100 pyroclastic density currents descended the Miisi, Bonga, and Basud gullies alongside 72 rockfalls and visible crater glow. Evacuations totaled 3,602 people within the 6-km danger zone as inflation continued and a plume rose 1 km above the summit. At Kanlaon (Alert Level 2), plumes reached 900 m, while Taal held at low-level unrest (Alert Level 1).

Mexico
In Mexico, Popocatepetl (Yellow Alert – Phase 2) produced ash, gas, and steam emissions; a M1.2 VT earthquake was recorded.

South America
Reventador emitted ash up to 800 m with SO2 degassing and thermal anomalies, while activity at Sangay eased with lower ash to 500 m. Peru’s Sabancaya released gas-and-steam to 500 m amid slight inflation and 16 quakes. Colombia’s Purace remained at Orange Alert.

Other
In Guatemala, Fuego generated up to 10 explosions per hour with ash rising 1,037 m, and Santa Maria produced ash to 800 m with about two explosions per hour. In Costa Rica, Poas stayed active (Level 2 – Warning) while Rincon de la Vieja and Turrialba also held at Level 2.

Source: Smithsonian/USGS GVP Daily Volcanic Activity Report — 8 January 2026.

Activity Summary for 8 January 2026

Volcano Country Activity Type Keynotes
Dukono Indonesia Eruption Ash-and-gas plumes to 300 m.
Fuego Guatemala Eruption ~10 explosions/hr; ash-and-gas to 1,037 m; incandescent ejecta.
Great Sitkin United States Eruption Lava effusing slowly in summit crater.
Ibu Indonesia Eruption Ash-and-gas to 600 m; 103 explosions.
Kilauea United States Eruption Occasional spattering at north vent; intermittent glow at both vents.
Kanlaon Philippines Eruption Plumes to 900 m.
Lewotobi Indonesia Eruption Gas-and-steam plumes to 200 m.
Lewotolok Indonesia Eruption 162 explosions detected.
Marapi Indonesia Eruption Gas-and-steam to 250 m; 1 explosion.
Mayon Philippines Eruption New lava dome and incipient lava flow; 100 PDCs on S, SE, and E gullies; crater glow, 72 rockfalls.
Merapi Indonesia Eruption Seismically detected PDCs.
Popocatepetl Mexico Eruption Ash, gas, and steam emissions; M1.2 VT quake.
Poas Costa Rica Eruption Eruption ongoing; Level 2 – Warning.
Purace Colombia Eruption Eruption ongoing; Alert Level Orange.
Reventador Ecuador Eruption Ash to 800 m; SO2 degassing; thermal anomalies.
Sabancaya Peru Eruption Gas-and-steam to 500 m; 16 earthquakes; slight inflation; thermal anomalies.
Sangay Ecuador Eruption Ash to 500 m; SO2 degassing; thermal anomalies.
Santa Maria Guatemala Eruption ~2 explosions/hr; ash to 800 m; gas-and-steam to 200 m.
Semeru Indonesia Eruption Ash to 800 m; 118 explosions; 4 rockfalls.
Taal Philippines Eruption Ongoing unrest; Level 1 – Low-Level Unrest.
Awu Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert.
Bur ni Telong Indonesia Unrest Unrest decreasing; Level 2 – Alert.
Gamalama Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert.
Iliwerung Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert.
Karangetang Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert.
Kerinci Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 150 m.
Lokon-Empung Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 15 m.
Raung Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 100 m.
Rincon de la Vieja Costa Rica Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Warning.
Shishaldin United States Unrest Ongoing unrest; Advisory; Aviation YELLOW.
Soputan Indonesia Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Alert.
Talang Indonesia Unrest Gas-and-steam to 200 m.
Turrialba Costa Rica Unrest Ongoing unrest; Level 2 – Warning.
Egon Indonesia Background/Normal Background state; Level 1 – Normal.