After The Eruption, The Status Of Mount Ibu Halmahera Barat Rose To "Alert"

JAKARTA - The status of Mount Ibu's volcanic activity in West Halmahera, North Maluku Province rose to the highest level, namely level IV or "Alert" on Wednesday, January 15 at 10:00 local time or WIT. Previously, the status of Mount Ibu was at level III.

From monitoring the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the increase in status to "Alert" occurred after an eruption occurred in the morning at 07.11 WIT. When the eruption column height was observed to be around 4.000 m above the peak.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the distribution of volcanic ash that looked gray with thick intensity was heading west.

"The eruption was recorded on a seismograph device with a duration of 2 minutes 11 seconds. The boom and roar during the eruption were heard until the Volcano Observation Post in Gam Ici Village, Ibu District," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Wednesday, January 15.

After the increase in the status of Mount Ibu's volcanic activity to level IV, Abdul Muhari recommended the community around Mount Ibu and visitors not to move within a radius of 4.5 km and sectoral expansion 6 km to the crater opening in the north of the active crater of Mount Ibu.

Second, if ash rains, people who are active outside the home are advised to use the nose, mouth (mask) and eyes (glasses).

Third, all parties to maintain the conduciveness of the atmosphere in the community, not to spread false narratives (hoaxes), and not to be provoked by issues with unclear sources. The public should always follow directions from the Regional Government.

"Furthermore, the West Halmahera Regency Government should always coordinate with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation in Bandung or with the Mount Ici Observation Post to obtain direct information about the activities of Mount Ibu," he explained.