PVMBG reported that activity at Lokon Empung had decreased during the previous few weeks. Seismicity notably decreased during 21-22 July; volcanic earthquakes started to become less frequent and tremor amplitude significantly decreased. Gas-and-steam emissions had variable densities but decreased from a maximum height of 400 m above the crater during 18-31 July to a maximum height of 200 m above the crater during 1-20 August. At 1200 on 21 August the Alert Level was lowered to 2 (on a sale of 1-4) and the public was reminded not to approach Tompaluan Crater within a radius of 1.5 km.

Geological Summary. The Lokong-Empung volcanic complex, rising above the plain of Tondano in North Sulawesi, includes four peaks and an active crater. Lokon, the highest peak, has a flat craterless top. The morphologically younger Empung cone 2 km NE has a 400-m-wide, 150-m-deep crater that erupted last in the 18th century. A ridge extending 3 km WNW from Lokon includes the Tatawiran and Tetempangan peaks. All eruptions since 1829 have originated from Tompaluan, a 150 x 250 m crater in the saddle between Lokon and Empung. These eruptions have primarily produced small-to-moderate ash plumes that sometimes damaged croplands and houses, but lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows have also occurred.

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