PVMBG reported that seismicity at Awu fluctuated during April and the first part of May. On 11 May the number of earthquakes rose significantly; the number of local tectonic and deep volcanic earthquakes was the highest recorded in the last year, and the number of shallow volcanic earthquakes was the second highest recorded (the highest number was recorded on 24 November 2015, prompting an increase in the Alert Level). Earthquake hypocenters were located at depths between 0.5 and 4 km. On 12 May the Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4); residents and tourists were advised to stay 4 km away from the crater.

Geological Summary. The massive Gunung Awu stratovolcano occupies the northern end of Great Sangihe Island, the largest of the Sangihe arc. Deep valleys that form passageways for lahars dissect the flanks of the volcano, which was constructed within a 4.5-km-wide caldera. Powerful explosive eruptions in 1711, 1812, 1856, 1892, and 1966 produced devastating pyroclastic flows and lahars that caused more than 8000 cumulative fatalities. Awu contained a summit crater lake that was 1 km wide and 172 m deep in 1922, but was largely ejected during the 1966 eruption.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)