Persistent fumarolic activity occurred at Kerinci during February to mid-October 2000. During the report period Kerinci mainly produced light-colored, variably dense gas-and-steam plumes that rose 50-600 m. Plumes were occasionally reported to darken and become dense between 29 February and 20 March, possibly indicating ash emission, although no ashfall was reported. Small explosion earthquakes, usually related to gas discharge, dominated seismicity throughout the interval with an average of ~240 events recorded per week. These earthquakes were continuous during late April to mid-May. Consistent numbers of deep volcanic (A-type), shallow volcanic (B-type), and tectonic earthquakes occurred throughout the period. During the report interval no major eruptions were observed, and Kerinci's hazard status did not exceed 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Geological Summary. Gunung Kerinci in central Sumatra forms Indonesia's highest volcano and is one of the most active in Sumatra. It is capped by an unvegetated young summit cone that was constructed NE of an older crater remnant. There is a deep 600-m-wide summit crater often partially filled by a small crater lake that lies on the NE crater floor, opposite the SW-rim summit. The massive 13 x 25 km wide volcano towers 2400-3300 m above surrounding plains and is elongated in a N-S direction. Frequently active, Kerinci has been the source of numerous moderate explosive eruptions since its first recorded eruption in 1838.

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).