Mount Ibu Vomits Volcanic Ash As High As 700 Meters

JAKARTA - Mount Ibu in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku (Malut), spewed volcanic ash as high as 700 meters above the top of the mountain on Wednesday, September 3 at around 15:09 WIT.

"Yes, an eruption with a height of ash column was observed of up to 700 meters," said PGA Ibu officer Richard Chaniago in a written statement, Wednesday, confiscated by Antara.

The eruption of Mount Ibu was seen spewing a column of gray ash with thick intensity leaning towards the Southwest.

He explained that this eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of approximately 1 minute 1 second from the PGA Ibu Post in Gam Ici Village, Ibu District.

"Currently, the condition of the volcano as high as 1,325 meters above sea level is at Level II or Alert status.

Therefore, he asked the community around Mount Ibu and visitors/tourists not to move within a 2 kilometer radius and to expand sectorally within 3.5 kilometers to the crater opening in the north of the active crater of Mount Ibu

"If ash rains, people who are active outside the home are advised to wear masks and glasses," he said.

All parties are also advised to maintain the conduciveness of the atmosphere in the community, not spread false narratives (hoaxes), and not be provoked by issues with unclear sources.

"People should always follow directions from local governments," he said

The West Halmahera Regency Government should always coordinate with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation in Bandung or with the Mount Ibu Observation Post in Gam Ici Village to get direct information about the activities of Mount Ibu.