Geological Agency: Patterns Of Volcano Activities In Indonesia Change

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) indicates a change in the pattern of volcanic eruption activity in Indonesia, thus requiring further study for the risk management of the accompanying hazard impact.

"The volcanic activity from what happened recently is very dynamic, so this is a challenge for us," said Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Muhammad Wafid in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, November 28.

The change in the activity pattern of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki on November 4, 2024, is one example that even requires the Geological Agency to move two volcanic monitoring stations in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The monitoring station of Mount Lewotobi Wolorona has stopped operating since July 17, 2024, and OJN Station has stopped operating as of November 9, 2024, due to an eruption material that is within the danger zone, only 4.5 kilometers adrift of the main crater.

His party set the safe zone for the eruption of Mount Lewotobi outside a radius of 7 kilometers from the main crater as set until November 27, 2024.

"Our team in the field is looking for a new location for the station, and proves that this event is explosive outside of the previous one," he said.

He ensured that monitoring was still running well by relying on the remaining three stations, namely Klatanlo Station in Walanggitang District, Nukellen Station on Ile Bura, Flores Island and Northeastern CCTV Station.

Wafid revealed that the volcanic eruption activity that occurred in succession in the last few weeks was a phenomenon that must be observed in detail by a team of volcanologists in each region.

Mount Dempo in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra became an active volcano that erupted recently, following Mount Marapi (West Sumatra), Mount Semeru (East Java), Mother (North Maluku), Awu, Lokon and Karangetang (North Sulawesi), Merapi (DI Yogyakarta), Gunung Iya, Mount Lewotobi Laki (East Nusa Tenggara).

According to him, the emergence of the volcano cannot be separated from the tujaman, so that each volcano has its own magma system. Therefore, it cannot be correlated between one another.

He emphasized that it is important for local governments and the public to respond carefully to any information or early warning of volcanic activity issued by their respective regional monitoring stations.