August 18 , 2026.
Italy / Sicily , Etna :
Update on Etna’s activity, August 17, 2026, 09:18 (07:18 UTC).
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) – Etna Observatory (INGV-OE) reports that video surveillance footage captured the opening of an eruptive vent in the Valle del Bove at 06:09 UTC, at an elevation between 2,200 and 2,350 m; this activity resulted in a lava flow. Field inspections by INGV-OE personnel are currently underway, while ash emission from the Voragine crater continues, with ash dispersing towards the southeast.
Regarding seismic activity, following an increase yesterday afternoon, the average amplitude of volcanic tremor peaked yesterday evening around 17:40 UTC; subsequently—and up to the present—it has decreased slightly, showing minor fluctuations while remaining within a high range of values. The centroids of the tremor source are located in the Voragine crater area, at an elevation of approximately 3,000 m above sea level.
Since yesterday afternoon, infrasonic activity has fluctuated significantly, remaining within a low-to-moderate range. Low-to-moderate amplitude infrasonic events have been—and continue to be—generated primarily by the Voragine crater; to a lesser extent, infrasonic sources have also been located at the Northeast Crater.
Signals from the tiltmeter network show minor variations—on the order of 0.5 microradians—consistent with an ongoing deflation process. A more pronounced variation is observed at the Cratere del Piano station, which has recorded a cumulative change of approximately 2 microradians since August 16 at 16:30. High-frequency signals from the GNSS network currently show no significant variations exceeding the measurement uncertainty.
Statement on Etna activity, August 17, 2026, 18:19 (16:19 UTC).
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) – Etna Observatory (INGV-OE) reports that thermal measurements taken this morning by INGV-OE personnel indicate a general cooling of the lava field in the Valle del Bove; however, an eruptive vent located at an elevation of 1,900 m remains active and is feeding a flow that reaches an elevation of approximately 1,600 m. Explosive activity at 06:09 UTC caused the collapse of the eastern flank of the Monte Rittmann cone, leading to the opening of a new effusive vent at an elevation of 2,350 m; this generated a lava flow approximately 500 meters long, which, however, quickly stalled and cooled. Finally, explosive activity of varying intensity persists at the Voragine crater, where the eruption plume has reached a height of approximately 6,000 m above sea level, dispersing towards the southeast.
Seismically, the average amplitude of volcanic tremor showed no significant variation during the day, remaining at a high level. Tremor source centroids are located in the Voragine crater area, at an elevation of approximately 3,000 m above sea level. Infrasonic activity was highly variable, remaining at low to moderate levels. Since 10:30 UTC, infrasonic events—generally of moderate amplitude—have originated almost exclusively from the Northeast Crater and only occasionally from the Voragine crater.
Since the last update, neither the GNSS network nor the tiltmeter network has shown significant variations. In particular, the Cratere del Piano tiltmeter is displaying an oscillating trend within a 0.5-microradian range, reflecting the current variability in volcanic activity.
Further updates will be provided as soon as possible.
Source : INGV.
Photos : Giuseppe Tonzuso. , Luigi Crispi.
Indonesia , Anak Krakatau :
An eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau occurred on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:26 p.m. (Western Indonesia Time), with an ash column reaching a height of approximately 300 m above the summit (or about 457 m above sea level). The dense, gray-to-black ash column drifted northeast. The eruption was recorded by the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 30 mm and a duration of 28 seconds.
Seismic observations
60 emission earthquakes with amplitudes of 18.5–72 mm and durations of 22–78 seconds.
2 low-frequency earthquakes with amplitudes of 21–58 mm and durations of 7–16 seconds.
41 hybrid/multiphase earthquakes with amplitudes of 13.6–68 mm and durations of 5–23 seconds.
1 episode of continuous tremor with an amplitude of 1–40 mm (dominant amplitude of 15 mm).
Recommendations
The public, visitors, tourists, and hikers must not approach Mount Anak Krakatau or engage in activities within a 3 km radius of the active crater.
Source et photo : PVMBG.
Ecuador , Sangay :
DAILY STATUS REPORT FOR SANGAY VOLCANO, Monday, August 17, 2026.
Information from the Geophysical Institute – EPN.
Surface activity level: Moderate; Surface trend: Decreasing
Internal activity level: Moderate; Internal trend: Decreasing
Seismicity: From August 16, 2026, 11:00 AM to August 17, 2026, 11:00 AM:
Seismicity:
Here is the count of seismic events recorded at the reference station:
Explosion (EXP): 8
Precipitation / Lahars:
Precipitation was recorded in the volcano area, though it did not trigger mud or debris flows. **In the event of heavy rain, accumulated material could be remobilized, generating mud and debris flows that would descend the volcano’s flanks and spill into adjacent watercourses.**
Emission plume / ash:
No gas or ash emissions have been detected over the past 24 hours by camera monitoring systems or satellite imagery. Furthermore, the Washington VAAC has issued no reports regarding the volcano’s activity.
Observation:
From yesterday afternoon until the time of writing this report, the volcano has remained largely obscured by cloud cover.
Alert level: Yellow
Source : IGEPN
Photo : Fabricio Cadena Gómez/ Volcan Sangay / FB.
Guatemala , Santiaguito :
Weather conditions: Clear
Wind: Easterly
Precipitation: 0.0 mm
Volcanic activity
Constant degassing is observed at the Caliente dome; the plume reaches a height of 400 meters and drifts towards the west and southwest. Low- to moderate-intensity explosions have been recorded, generating a gas and ash column rising up to 800 meters above the dome and drifting towards the west and southwest. During the night and early morning, incandescence is visible at the summit of the dome as well as on its western and southwestern flanks, resulting from recurring avalanches cascading down these slopes.
The formation of pyroclastic density currents cannot be ruled out; it is therefore essential to adhere to the recommendations set out in special bulletin BESAN-002-2025. Rainfall over the volcanic zone could trigger low- to moderate-intensity lahars in the watercourses on the southern flank (such as Nimá I, Tambor, and Cabello de Ángel); consequently, the recommendations in special bulletin BESAN-016-2025 must be followed.
Source : Insivumeh.
Photo : la hora
Colombia , Galeras :
San Juan de Pasto, August 12, 2026, 7:10 PM.
Based on the monitoring of Galeras volcano’s activity, the Colombian Geological Service (SGC)—an agency attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy—reports the following:
During the week of August 3 to 10, 2026, the main variations in monitored parameters compared to the previous week were as follows:
● Amidst stable volcanic behavior, a slight increase was recorded in both the frequency of seismic events and the seismic energy released. The majority of this seismicity remained associated with rock-fracturing processes within the volcanic edifice.
● Low-altitude white gas emissions were observed, dispersing with the wind. These emissions originated primarily from the El Paisita fumarole field (to the north), the Las Chavas field (to the west), and the main crater.
● Other volcanic monitoring parameters remained stable.
In light of the above, the SGC recommends closely monitoring the volcano’s activity via weekly bulletins and other information released through our official channels, as well as adhering to the instructions issued by local and departmental authorities and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).
Volcanic activity remains at the yellow alert level: an active volcano showing changes in the baseline behavior of monitored parameters and other manifestations.
Source et photo : SGC.
