Three East Indonesian Volcanoes Erupted Friday Morning

JAKARTA - Three active volcanoes in the eastern Indonesian region, namely Mount Dukono and Mount Ibu in North Maluku, and Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) erupted on Friday, June 12, as reported by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Acting Head of the Geological Agency Lana Saria, quoted by Antara, Friday morning, said the volcanic activity of the three volcanoes occurred in close proximity to launching volcanic ash columns ranging from 400 to 500 meters above the peak of each crater.

The first eruption on Friday morning occurred at Mount Dukono, North Halmahera, at 06.15 WIT, followed by Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores at 07.04 WITA, and finally Mount Ibu in West Halmahera at 07.45 WIT.

Lana explained that for Mount Dukono, the column of ash was observed to be white to thick gray up to 500 meters inclined to the northwest, with a maximum amplitude of the seismogram of 12 millimeters, where the eruption process was reported to still continue.

Meanwhile, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki ejected a column of gray ash 400 meters high that headed west and northwest, with instrument recordings showing a fairly large maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters for 46 seconds.

Mount Ibu recorded a column of ash as high as 400 meters in thick gray color that led to the west, with a maximum amplitude recorded on the seismogram of 28 millimeters and a duration of the impact for about 45 seconds.

Regarding the status of activity, the Geological Agency has set the activity level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki at Level III (Alert), while for Mount Ibu and Mount Dukono are currently both at Level II activity level (Warning).

Along with the Alert status on Mount Lewotobi Male, Lana urged the public and tourists to comply with the recommendation of safe distance by not carrying out any activities within a radius of five kilometers from the center of the crater eruption.

The Geological Agency warns residents at the foot of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, especially in the Dulipali, Klatanlo, and Hokeng Jaya areas, to be aware of the potential threat of flash flood along the river flow upstream at the top of the mountain during heavy rain.

For the Ibu and Dukono Mountain areas, the public is asked to stay away from the respective safe radius of two to four kilometers, and always prepare eye protection and mouth masks to anticipate the spread of volcanic ash exposure.