According to 17 and 18 August news articles a total of 39 families (104 people) were able to return to Tatahadeng and Tarorane villages because activity at Karangetang had declined. Incandescent avalanches continued to descend the SW, S, and SE flanks, though the number of events and the distanced traveled were lower. PVMBG reported that dense white gas-and-steam plumes were visible on most days rising as high as 150 m and drifting NE, N, and NW during 23-29 August. Weather clouds sometimes prevented views of the summit. Webcam images published in the reports showed incandescence at the summit and from material on the flanks of Main Crater (S crater). According to a news source, incandescent lava avalanches traveled as far as 1.5 km down the Batuawang drainage and 1.8 km down the Kahetang and Keting drainages. Incandescent material was sometimes ejected up to 25 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4) and the public were advised to stay 2.5 km away from Main Crater with an extension to 3.5 km on the S and SE flanks.

Geological Summary. Karangetang (Api Siau) volcano lies at the northern end of the island of Siau, about 125 km NNE of the NE-most point of Sulawesi. The stratovolcano contains five summit craters along a N-S line. It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, with more than 40 eruptions recorded since 1675 and many additional small eruptions that were not documented (Neumann van Padang, 1951). Twentieth-century eruptions have included frequent explosive activity sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lava dome growth has occurred in the summit craters; collapse of lava flow fronts have produced pyroclastic flows.

Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Antara News, Antara News