Mount Ibu Status In West Halmahera Rises To Alert

JAKARTA - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) announced the increase in the status of Mount Ibu in West Halmahera, North Maluku (Malut), from previously alert level II to level III alert. Head of PVMBG, Hendra Gunawan said that since mid-April 2024, visual activity and seismicity, especially volcanic earthquakes, have shown a significant increase.

"The height of the eruption column tends to increase with the presence of incandescent rock," he said in a report received in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 8, which was confiscated by Antara. On April 16 to May 8, 2024, the seismic activity recorded on Mount Ibu, namely 130 eruptions, 8 avalanche earthquakes, 1,445 gusts, 53 earthquakes. harmonic, 9 times the tornillo earthquake. Then, as many as 6,742 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 116 times the inner volcanic earthquake, 15 times the local tectonic earthquake, 231 times the distant tectonic earthquake, and 1 time the earthquake was felt. PVMBG recommends residents around Mount Ibu not to climb and approach the mountain within a radius of 3 kilometers and the sectoral expansion is 5 kilometers to the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater. "If ash rain occurs, people who are active outside the house are advised to use the nose, mouth, and eyes," said Hendra.

Residents in Duono, Tukuoko, Goin, Togorebasu, Sangajinyeku, Toguis, Tokoke, and Borona villages located more than 4 kilometers from the crater opening in the northern part must increase vigilance while still complying with the directives from the local government. Hendra said that the level of activity of Mount Ibu will be re-evaluated periodically or if there is a significant change.

"The level of activity is considered fixed if the next evaluation has not been issued," he concluded.