Ash cloud from Sangay volcano observed at 8.5 km altitude, Ecuador

An ash cloud from Sangay volcano, Ecuador, was observed at 8.5 km (28 000 feet) altitude at 12:30 UTC on September 20, 2026, according to the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).

The ash cloud was detected in both webcam and satellite images, extending approximately 28 km (17 miles) south-southwest of the summit. The advisory reported southward movement at about 20 km/h (10 mph), with an expected shift toward the south-southeast over the next six hours. Ash cloud altitude and movement were analyzed using data from GOES-19 satellite imagery, VONA reports, webcam observations, and numerical weather models. No Aviation Color Code was stated in the advisory.

Sangay is an active stratovolcano located in the eastern Cordillera of the Ecuadorian Andes.