The twin volcanoes Lokon and Empung, rising about 800 m above the plain of Tondano, are among the most active volcanoes of Sulawesi.
Lokon, the higher of the two peaks (whose summits are only 2.2 km apart), has a flat, craterless top. The younger Empung volcano has a 400-m-wide, 150-m-deep crater that erupted last in the 18th century, but all subsequent eruptions have originated from Tompaluan, a 150 x 250 m wide double crater situated in the saddle between the two peaks.
Historical eruptions have primarily produced small-to-moderate ash plumes that have occasionally damaged croplands and houses, but lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows have also occurred.
Stratovolcano 1580 m / 5,184 ft
North Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1.36°N / 124.79°E
Lokon-Empung webcams / live data
Lokon-Empung volcano eruptions:
1375, 1775, 1829, 1893-94, 1930, 1942, 1948, 1951-53, 1958-59, 1961, 1962, 1963-64, 1965, 1966, 1969-70, 1971, 1973-74, 1975-80, 1984(?), 1986-87, 1988, 1991-92, 2000-01, 2002, 2002-03, 2011
Typical eruption style:Small-moderate explosive eruptions.
Last earthquakes nearby
Volcano news: Lokon
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2013
No more explosions have occurred and degassing also has been much reduced recently. While the latest eruptive phase seems to be thus over, it is only a matter of time when the next one will occur.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2013
 Ash emission from Lokon volcano this morning (VSI webcam)
Activity remains elevated. During yesterday, no significant explosions occurred, but the volcano erupted again several times with small explosions and ash emissions today, such as on the attached picture and time-lapse video: ...more
Tuesday, Sep 10, 2013
Explosion from Lokon this morning (image: David Pyle)
More explosions have occurred today (at least 6 so far, at 06:12, 06:55, 07:45, 08:36, 09:51, 15:59), preceded by increased degassing and often followed by continuous ash venting lasting for up to 1-2 hours. Ash plumes rose to elevations of 1-2 km and the Aviation Color code was raised to orange. ...moreVolcanologist David Pyle who is on location shared the attached picture on twitter and several of the explosions could be seen on the VSI webcam, as the following video shows: [ less] [ read all]
Monday, Sep 09, 2013
An explosion at 6:30 am (local time) today at Lokon-Empung volcano produced an ash plume that rose to a height of 1.5 km. The explosion was heard 10 km away. ...moreA newspaper stated that "The lava flow reached several northern area villages, namely Pineleng, Tanawangko and Tateli". This report is vague and there are no other reports of a 'lava flow'. [ less] [ read all]
Thursday, Jul 25, 2013
An explosion occurred Monday (22 July) morning at 05:06 local time, producing an ash plume of about 1200 m height.
Sunday, Jul 14, 2013
 Lokon volcano seen from the webcam today
No recent explosions were reported (which does not mean that there were none), but at least no significant ones have occurred recently. ...moreAt the moment. the volcano can be seen emitting a plume of steam and bluish gas (SO2), which suggests that fresh magma is present near the surface. [ less]
Friday, Jul 05, 2013
Following several weeks of relative calm, the volcano produced another small ash eruption today. According to local newspapers, an explosion occurred at 12:43 local time and ejected bombs and blocks to up to 700 m height. A small ash plume drifted to the SSW.
Monday, May 06, 2013
Another explosion occurred yesterday evening. It was heard in up to 6 km distance and incandescent bombs were ejected to 200 m distance from the Tompaluan crater. ...moreThe eruption was preceded by an increase in seismic activity starting Saturday night, the local volcano observatory reported. An exclusion zone of 2.5 km radius from the volcano remains in place. [ less] [ read all]
Sunday, Apr 14, 2013
Another relatively large eruption occurred this morning around 9am local time. The explosion produced an ash plume reported 4 km high (or: altitude?), and strong vibrations felt in up to 5 km distance.h a height of 1580 meters was still in alert status to level III. ...moreAuthorities advise not to approach the volcano's summit within 2.5 km radius, which was declared a prohibited zone (villagers often go there to collect wood, grass etc.). [ less] Monday, Apr 08, 2013
Another explosion occurred this morning just before 10:00 (local time, 02am GMT). A relatively large ash plume rose about 3 km above the crater to an altitude of 15,000 ft (4.5 km) and drifted SW. The eruption was heard up to 6 km away. ...moreThe eruption was preceded by a strong increase in seismicity the volcano observatory recorded. After the main eruption, the volcano continued to produce ash venting. Darwin VAAC keeps the aviation alert level at orange. [ less] [ read all]
Show more news
Thursday, Apr 04, 2013
New explosions occurred yesterday at 12:28 pm and later at 18:15 local time. An exclusion zone of 2.5 radius around the Tompaluan crater is in effect. ...moreVolcanic ash plumes reached 700 m above the crater and were blown to the south. The activity was preceded by an increase of seismicity since Tuesday, April 2. According to a local news article, there are no evacuations and residents still feel safe around the volcano. [ less] [ read all]
Monday, Mar 25, 2013
A series of 3 moderately large explosions occurred this morning between 05:12 and 07:30 local time, and was followed by small ash emissions during the whole morning. The largest eruption produced an ash column rising about 2 km above the crater.
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013
Just after we hadmentioned that there has not been an eruption for some time, the volcano erupted again this morning around 7am local time. An explosion produced an ash column rising 2 km above the crater, easily visible from Manado, the regional capital to the NE, and was heard in up to 6 km distance. ...moreThe description of the ash being dark brown and black in local news suggests that it contains fresh magma, i.e. a new batch of magma has just surfaced at the volcano. The official volcano alert level and aviation color code have been raised to orange. [ less] Monday, Mar 18, 2013
No recent reports of explosions have become available, suggesting that the volcano has quieted down considerably compared to Nov-Jan when it produced almost daily eruptions.
Sunday, Feb 03, 2013
Another relatively strong eruption occurred today. An ash column rising 3 km was observed after an explosion from the Tompulan crater at 14:09. ...moreIt seems that only larger explosions like this now make news entries in the Indonesian (and from there international) press. There are many more smaller ones occurring. The head of the local volcano observatory, Farid Bima, was quoted in an article that explosions occur daily, and that yesterday alone, Lokon had 9 (nine) explosions. [ less] [ read all]
Thursday, Jan 31, 2013
Explosions from the volcano have become more infrequent, but two new explosions occurred this morning at 6:54 and 10:44 am local time. The eruptions produced booms heard in the nearby villages, but due to cloud cover could not be well observed. The local volcano observatory estimated the height of the plume about 800 meters. ...moreThe eruption was preceded by strong seismic activity that started last night. PVMBG maintains alert level 3 (out of 4). [ less] Friday, Jan 25, 2013
 Ash emission from Lokon (VSI webcam)
Following the moderately large explosion yesterday, small ash emissions continue from the crater, as seen on this webcam image today.
Thursday, Jan 24, 2013
A new, relatively large explosion occurred this morning at 5am local time. The online newspaper KabarCepat mentioned that the explosion was heard up to 6 km away. ...moreFollowing the initial eruption, the volcano continued to produce a strong steam plume, interrupted by smaller explosions for almost all day. More than 3 mm of ash were deposited 4 km to the NE in Kinilow. [ less] Wednesday, Jan 16, 2013
Another explosion occurred this morning at 09:33 local time. It was weaker than the previous ones and produced a plume rising to about 12,000 ft (3.6 km) altitude and drifting NE, VAAC Darwin reported.
Sunday, Jan 13, 2013
A series of 3 smaller ash eruptions occurred today at 09:09, 09:15 and 09:19 local time. The explosions produced ash plumes rising about 700 m above the crater and the roar could be heard in up to 6 km distance. ...moreVSI maintains status 3 (out of 4) of the volcano and recommends not to approach the Tompaluan crater within a radius of 2.5 km. [ less] Show more news
Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
Another vulcanian explosion has occurred this morning around 05:43 local time (21h43 GMT). The eruption only lasted a few minutes and produced an ash column rising about 1500 m above the volcano and drifting to the north towards Manado. ...moreToday's eruption adds to the list of regular explosions that have been occurring sometimes almost daily, or every few days ,from the volcano during its ongoing eruptive phase. [ less] Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013
Another explosion occurred today sending an ash plume to 8,000 ft (2.4 km) altitude.
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2013
A new strong explosion occurred today at 06:58 local time producing an ash plume rising 3.5 km as local media reported.
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