The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: January 8-14, 2026
New activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes from January 8 to 14, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 22 volcanoes.

New activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes from January 8 to 14, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 22 volcanoes.

A series of three small earthquake swarms occurred beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii, between January 13 and 14, 2026, marking the most notable shallow seismic unrest since the eruption’s onset in December 2024. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reports all events were below magnitude 2 and located 1.5–4 km (0.9–2.5 miles) beneath the surface. The activity follows the high fountain eruption of episode 40 on January 12, which produced 5.5 million m³ (7.2 million yd³) of lava within less than 10 hours.

New activity/unrest was reported for 9 volcanoes from January 1 to 7, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 15 volcanoes.

Nearly 3 000 residents have been evacuated from communities around Mayon volcano in Albay Province, Philippines, after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert status to Level 3 on January 6, 2026. The evacuation follows intensified dome collapse events, pyroclastic density currents, and ongoing effusive lava extrusion at the summit.

PHIVOLCS raised Mayon Volcano’s alert status to Level 3 on January 6, 2026, following intensified dome collapse events and effusive lava extrusion at the summit crater. The next day, Tokyo VAAC reported a brief ash emission to 2 700 m (9 000 feet), consistent with ongoing shallow magmatic activity.

Two paroxysmal eruptions occurred at Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater on December 27, 2025, marking the first major eruptive episode from this crater in almost 28 years. The events produced lava fountains up to 500 m (1 640 feet), eruptive columns rising over 10 km (6 miles) above sea level, and a short lava flow from the nearby Voragine Crater. Activity gradually declined by December 28, with continued strombolian explosions and weak effusion.

Etna’s eruptive activity intensified rapidly between December 24 and 27, 2025, culminating in short-lived lava fountains about 200 m (650 feet) high and a new lava flow from the upper Voragine crater toward the Valle del Bove. INGV Etna Observatory (OE) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red on December 27 as tremor and infrasound amplitudes reached very high levels.

Activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago began increasing early on December 24, 2025, and continued through Christmas, ejecting mud up to 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air and damaging roads, homes, and nearby infrastructure. Officials confirmed visible cracks, ground uplift, and frequent eruptions occurring every 10–20 seconds as assessments and safety operations remained underway.

New activity/unrest was reported for 4 volcanoes from December 17 to 23, 2025. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 19 volcanoes.

Kīlauea entered eruptive episode 39 at 20:10 HST on December 23, 2025 (06:10 UTC on December 24) as lava fountains rose from twin vents on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Within about 95 minutes, fountain heights increased from 10 m (30 feet) to more than 420 m (1 400 feet), with lava flows covering 10–20% of the crater floor by 21:14 HST and a plume reaching 6 000 m (20 000 feet).