Volcanic activity was tracked on October 2, 2026, as multiple Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC) reported ongoing eruptions and ash plumes, volcanodiscovery.com reported.
Volcanic Ash Plumes Threaten Aviation Routes in Indonesia and Guatemala
Explosive activity continued unabated across several Indonesian peaks on October 2. VAAC Darwin issued advisories warning that an ash plume from Mount Ibu on Halmahera rose to an estimated 7,000 feet, corresponding to flight level 070, and moved east at 15 knots. Nearby Dukono maintained a similar output, generating a 7,000-foot ash plume drifting east at 15 knots as of 13:10 UTC.
In the Lesser Sunda Islands, Lewotolo produced an ash plume reaching 6,000 feet, or flight level 060, which moved westward at 15 knots by 20:33 UTC. Further south in East Java, Semeru experienced intermittent eruptions, with ground reports and model guidance tracking ash movement toward the northwest at 5 knots.
In Central America, VAAC Washington reported significant activity on October 2. Guatemala’s Santiaguito sustained explosive activity, generating an ash plume that climbed to an estimated 14,000 feet, or flight level 140, by 14:10 UTC. Fuego showed continuous volcanic ash emissions with forecasts projecting initial movement to the northeast before shifting north within 12 hours.
Satellite Data Fails to Identify Mayon Ash Cloud
On Luzon Island in the Philippines, an eruption was reported at Mayon at 17:20 UTC on October 2. However, satellite data as of 17:30 UTC could not definitively identify the resulting ash cloud. Forecasters have not yet released specific trajectory information for the event.
South American monitoring centers also tracked unverified or continuous emissions. Puracé in Colombia triggered a VAAC Washington bulletin indicating potential ash emissions. In Ecuador, Sangay exhibited signs of possible ash emissions, while Reventador reported ongoing emissions with no expected changes in local wind conditions over an 18-hour forecast window.
Global Volcanic Activity Tracking Summary
Beyond immediate advisories, international monitoring agencies maintain active eruption statuses for numerous systems worldwide. These range from long-running effusive events to persistent summit lava lakes.
- Aoba (Vanuatu): Maintaining a new effusive eruption phase as updated on September 21, 2026.
- Bagana (Papua New Guinea): Listed under active Smithsonian and USGS monitoring protocols.
- Bezymianny (Kamchatka): Active per Smithsonian and USGS weekly reporting.
- Erebus (Antarctica): Sustaining an active lava lake in its summit crater.
- Erta Ale (Ethiopia): Marked by a new summit depression likely linked to the Hayli Gubbi eruption.
- Home Reef (Tonga Islands): Exhibiting elevated activity levels.
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