PVMBG Still Monitoring The Eruption Potential Of Mount Awu, North Sulawesi

MANADO - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is still monitoring the potential eruption of Mount Awu, Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi.

"So far, we can still see smoke emerging from the lava dome, we are monitoring it continuously," said the Eastern Region Volcano Mitigation Sub-Coordinator Devy Kamil Syahbana, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

The appearance of smoke around the lava dome indicates that there is an increasing supply of magma, so the potential for a volcanic eruption must be anticipated as early as possible.

"The current status of Mount Awu is still at Alert Level 3. There is a tendency for deep or shallow volcanic earthquakes to decrease, but it cannot be concluded that volcanic activity has decreased," he said.

The steps that are being carried out at this time, he said, continue to monitor while urging the public or tourists not to carry out activities within the recommended danger radius.

"We hope that the recommendations given are obeyed by the community," he said.

Several PVMBG recommendations, namely the public and visitors or tourists not to approach and move within a 3.5 kilometer radius from the crater of the peak of Mount Awu.

The community around the mountain is expected to remain calm, not to be provoked by issues regarding the activities of Mount Awu which cannot be accounted for while following the directions of the Regional Disaster Management Agency of the Sangihe Islands Regency.

The community and local government and other relevant agencies can monitor the development of the activity level and recommendations of Mount Awu at any time through the MAGMA Indonesia application.

Several weeks earlier, PVMBG noted an increase in the seismicity of Mount Awu. This agency eventually upgraded its status from Alert to Alert.