Mount Dukono Erupts

Screenshot of CCTV footage showing material eruptions from the crater of Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, Tuesday (21/11/2023). (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

JAKARTA - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) said Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, at 07.33 WIT erupted and launched volcanic ash to the west.

Mount Dukono Observation Post Officer Bambang Sugiono in a report broadcast by PVMBG said the thick white to gray ash column that came out of the volcano was about 1,900 meters high from the summit.

"When this report was made, the eruption was still ongoing," said Bambang as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 21.

According to PVMBG, Mount Dukono on November 20, 2023 from 00.00 to 24.00 WIT emits thick crater smoke as high as 100 to 2,300 meters from the summit.

The volcano was also recorded to have experienced 24 eruption earthquakes with an amplitude of 8 to 34 mm with a duration of 30.81 to 79.65 seconds, six distant tectonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 7 to 30 mm with a duration of 55.42 to 160.96 seconds, and one continuous tremor earthquake with an amplitude of 1 to 10 mm.

Bambang appealed to residents around Mount Dukono not to do activities, climb, and approach the Maupang Warirang Crater within a two-kilometer radius.

Residents are also advised to prepare mask stocks to avoid the bad effects of volcanic ash on health considering Mount Dukono periodically ejects volcanic ash.