Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-05-22

Seismic Activity

M5.8 — Maluku Sea, Indonesia (May 22, 2026)

A strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the Maluku Sea approximately 40 km southwest of Pulau Mayu Island, North Maluku, Indonesia, at 10:05 a.m. local time (Jayapura, GMT+9). The quake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 48 km (30 miles) and was felt across nearby communities in North Sulawesi.

Volcanic Watch

Kīlauea, Hawaii — Eruption Paused (ADVISORY / YELLOW)

As of the latest Hawaiian Volcano Observatory update on May 22, 2026, Kīlauea's Halemaʻumaʻu eruption remains paused. Glow was visible from both eruptive vents overnight, but the alert level remains at ADVISORY and the aviation color code at YELLOW, indicating reduced but ongoing unrest. Residents and visitors should continue to monitor HVO advisories.

Indonesia Volcano — Alert Raised to Level 3

Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM/PVMBG) raised the alert level for one Indonesian volcano to Level 3 (on a 4-level scale) at 13:00 on May 19, 2026. The public has been advised to stay at least 4 km from the crater center. This alert was reported in the Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report and remains active as of today's coverage period.

Sangay, Ecuador — Volcanic Ash Advisory

Sangay volcano in Ecuador triggered a volcanic ash advisory with ash emissions detected up to 20,500 ft (6,200 m) elevation. The advisory was issued within the past two days and remains current. Sangay is one of South America's most persistently active volcanoes.

Reventador, Ecuador — Ongoing Ash Emissions

Ecuador's Reventador volcano continues to generate ongoing volcanic ash emissions, with a VAAC advisory issued in the past 48 hours for persistent activity.

Earth Science

No major peer-reviewed research findings dated after 2026-05-20 were available in today's research results. For context on Indonesia's elevated volcanic alert: CVGHM's 4-level alert system uses Level 3 ("Siaga") to indicate activity that poses a significant threat beyond the immediate crater area and warrants evacuation planning for at-risk communities. A 4-km exclusion zone is standard protocol at this level. Residents near the affected volcano should follow official guidance from PVMBG.