Mount Karangetang Launches Heat Clouds as Far as 2 Kilometers

Hot clouds came out of the crater of Mount Karangetang in North Sulawesi on Monday (10/7/2023). (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that Mount Karangetang in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro Archipelago Regency, North Sulawesi, launched a hot cloud of avalanches as far as two kilometers.

Head of the Geological Agency Sugeng Mujiyanto said that the hot clouds falling from Mount Karangetang slid to the southeastern sector, towards Kali Kahetang.

According to him, Mount Karangetang twice launched hot clouds of avalanches on Monday, July 10 morning.

At 07.59 WITA the volcano launched hot clouds of avalanches with a maximum amplitude of 30 millimeters for 220 seconds and at 08.50 WITA launched hot clouds of avalanches with a maximum amplitude of 20 millimeters for 205 seconds.

The Geological Agency asks residents and tourists not to approach, not to climb, and not to carry out activities within the hazard forecast zone which covers an area within a 2.5-kilometer radius from the peaks of Kawah Dua (North Crater) and Main Crater (south) as well as the sectoral expansion area in the direction southwest, south, and southeast as far as 3.5 kilometers.

In addition, the Geological Agency asked residents to be aware of the impact of lava avalanches and hot clouds falling from Mount Karangetang.

Residents living around the banks of rivers that originate at the top of Mount Karangetang were also asked to increase their preparedness for the threat of lava rains and flash floods.

After Mount Karangetang launched hot clouds that fell on Monday morning, some residents around the mountain were directed to evacuate to the Tampuna Church, Bolo Village, Tarorane Village, East Siau District, Siau Islands Regency Tagulandang Biaro.

"The number of residents (who are displaced) still needs to be asked to BPBD. Meanwhile, the number of residents closest to the hot clouds is in Kampung Bolo, there are nine families with 15 people," said Sugeng.