Entering Alert Level, Tompaluan Mountains Residents Are Asked Not To Approach Mount Lokon's Tompaluan Crater

MANADO - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources reminded the public not to approach the area of a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the Tompaluan crater of Mount Lokon in Tompaluan City, North Sulawesi.

"In this level III activity level, people, visitors, tourists or climbers are not allowed to move and approach the area within a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the Tompaluan crater (activity center)," said Head of the Geological Agency, Sugeng Mujiyanto, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 18.

In the event of an eruption and ash rain, people are advised to stay indoors and if they are outside the house, it is advisable to use a nose, mouth (mask) and eyes (glasses).

He explained, in instrumental observations, the seismicity during the period of June 2023 was recorded 171 gusts, eight non-harmonic tremors, 225 shallow volcanic earthquakes, and 15 deep volcanic earthquakes.

Also recorded one local tectonic earthquake and 69 distant tectonic earthquakes and seven continuous tremors with an amplitude of 0.1 millimeters to 25 millimeters, dominant of five millimeters.

Meanwhile, the seismicity in the period from July 1 to 6, 2023 was recorded as many as 50 gusts, seven nonharmonic tremors, 151 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 12 deep volcanic earthquakes, and 33 distant tectonic earthquakes and six continuous tremors with an amplitude of 0.5 - 4 millimeters, dominant 0.5 millimeters.

Meanwhile, on July 17, 2023 at 00:30 p.m. local time, tremors/swarms were recorded with a maximum amplitude of 16 millimeters.

The results of visual and instrumental evaluation showed an increase in volcanic activity, the Geological Agency then raised the status of Mount Lokon from level II (alert) to level III (standby) starting on July 17, 2023 at 18:00 WITA.