The Eruption Of Mount Ibu In Halmahera Causes Volcanic Lightning Storm

JAKARTA - The eruption activity on Mount Ibu, which is located northwest of Halmahera Island, North Maluku, created a natural phenomenon in the form of thunderstorms. This is in line with the incandescent lava ejection and volcanic ash coming out of the crater of the volcano. Head of Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hendra Gunawan said the eruption that occurred on Saturday, May 11, at 00.24 WIT, produced a column of ash as high as four kilometers. "The eruption of incandescent lava was approximately 800 meters above the peak," he said, quoting Antara. Hendra said the column of volcanic ash was grayish with thick intensity leading to the north and northwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters and a temporary duration of 6 minutes 27 seconds. Meanwhile, the eruption of incandescent lava fell up to 1,000 meters below the crater's lip. The sound of the boom and roar arising from the eruption was heard to the observation post of Mount Ibu. The eruption that was created during the eruption arises due to the high temperature heating of the gas ions. The situation then caused a surge in the electric charge. Hendra said there were no casualties in the eruption incident that occurred early this morning. "The distance is beyond the recommendation of the Geological Agency. The infall of the incandescent lava is estimated to be approximately 1 kilometer from the center of the eruption and the column of the eruption was approximately 4,000 meters recorded," he said.

Mount Ibu, which has a height of 1,325 meters above sea level, has now been on alert level III since May 8, 2024. PVMBG has increased the status of this type of strato volcano due to increased volcanic activity and seismicity. On April 16 to May 8, 2024, seismic activity recorded on Mount Ibu, namely 130 eruptions, 8 avalanche earthquakes, 1,445 gusts, 53 earthquake gusts, 5 times the harmonic earthquake, 9 times the tornillo earthquake, 6,742 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 116 times the deep 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 three-kilometer radius and a sectoral expansion five kilometers to the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater.