Geological Agency Raises Mount Lokon Status In Tomohon To Be Alert

MANADO - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has upgraded the status of Mount Lokon in Tomohon City, North Sulawesi (Sulut), from Alert (Level II) to Alert (Kevel III) since 12.00 WITA today.

"The volcanic activity of crater smoke from August 1, 2025 to September 1, 2025, is generally thin to moderately white, about 40 meters high," said Head of the Center for Monitoring of Volcano and Disaster Mitigation of the Land Movement in Sulawesi and Maluku Juliana DJ Rumambi in the group, quoted via Antara, Wednesday, September 3.

Meanwhile, the seismicity was dominated by shallow volcanic earthquakes, which were recorded ranging from 1 to 37 incidents per day.

Furthermore, he said, the latest development of Mount Lokon on September 2, 2025, visual conditions showed no change, white smoke came out of the crater with a thin intensity of about 15 meters above the crater.

However, there was an increase in seismic activity, especially shallow volcanic earthquakes recorded as many as 143 incidents, gust earthquakes recorded 72 incidents, volcanic earthquakes recorded 15 incidents, and tectonic earthquakes recorded as many as eight incidents.

Data deformation (Tiltmeter), he said, shows inflation at Pelangi station from 17 August to 2 September 2025 on the radial axis (Yaxis).

Based on instrumental data, it is indicated that there is an increase in pressure on the shallow (surface) after the recording of a shallow volcanic earthquake that is associated with the release of gust gas.

The potential danger of the activity of Mount Lokon for now is the sudden eruption of phreatics (eruption caused by magma vapor contact with hydrothermal water) with or without any indication of a significant increase.

In the rainy season or if there is heavy rain at the top of Mount Lokon, he said, please be aware of the occurrence of lahars in rivers that originate from the top.

Based on the results of observations, analysis, and evaluation of visual and instrumental data, on September 3, 2025, the activity level of Mount Lokon was raised from Level II (Alert) to Level III (Alert) since September 3, 2025 at 00:30 WITA.