400 Residents Evacuated By BNPB And Joint Officers After Mount Ibu Erupts

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that more than 400 villagers in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, were evacuated after Mount Ibu erupted for the second phase on Saturday, May 18, evening.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari, who was confirmed from Jakarta, Sunday, said hundreds of people who were evacuated came from seven villages in West Halmahera, including Gam Ici Village and Tongte Ternate Village.

"Since last night, one by one, they have been evacuated using TNI/Polri tactical trucks and open tubs with residents," he said, who is currently still at the Main Command Post for the cold lava flood of Mount Marapi, West Sumatra.

He said the reports received by the joint team consisting of Babinsa, Tagana, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) as of Sunday afternoon were still carrying out the evacuation process and recording the identities of the residents within a radius of seven kilometers from the active crater of Mount Ibu.

This was done as recommended by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources that the seven-kilometer radius should be vacated from all human activities.

The Mount Ibu Observation Post revealed that the second phase of the eruption occurred on Saturday at 20.34 WIT.

At that time, the height of the ash column was observed as high as 1,000 meters from the peak of the crater which was gray with thick intensity leaning towards the northeast and east. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of 2 minutes 7 seconds.

The second phase of the eruption is no bigger than the first phase, namely the height of the ash column up to 4,000 meters above the gray peak with thick intensity leaning towards the west and northwest. This eruption was also recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of 9 minutes 12 seconds.

However, the second phase of the eruption is sufficient for PVMBG to establish the status of Mount Ibu at level IV or Alert, with the recommendation that a four-kilometer radius area should be vacated from all residents' activities. PVMBG also stipulates a sectoral expansion seven kilometers to the opening of the active crater to be vacated.