Mount Slamet Status Still Alert

JAKARTA - The status of Mount Slamet is still on alert status, so climbers have not been allowed to climb the highest mountain in Central Java. This is based on data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

"Currently, the status is still on alert because the data shows fluctuation," said Slamet Sukedi, a PVMBG officer at the Volcano Observation Post (PGA), quoted by Antara, Wednesday, June 29.

According to him, the fluctuating data is mainly on the seismicity and tilt distance (electronic distance meter / EDM) of Mount Slamet.

In this case, he said, deformations or changes in size still occur in mountains in the districts of Banyumas, Purbalingga, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes.

"Hence, the status is still there (alert, red) even though it has been going on for almost a year. Therefore, friends who want to climb (on Mount Slamet), it is not allowed, postponed first, or please look for another mountain that is more. safe and comfortable, "he explained.

He admitted that the intensity of the smoke emitted by the crater at the top of Mount Slamet is still relatively weak.

Sukedi said based on observations from the PGA Slamet Post in Gambuhan Village, Pulosari District, Pemalang Regency, which is about 8.5 kilometers north of the peak of Mount Slamet, the height of the smoke puffs on Wednesday (29/7) morning to noon ranged from 25-100 meters .

"Meanwhile, the puff of smoke is still white, not yet thick. Hopefully it doesn't get thick," he said.

The PVMBG has increased the status of Mount Slamet from normal active (level I) to alert (level II) since Friday, August 9, 2019, at 09.00 WIB.

This status upgrade was carried out after PVMBG conducted an analysis of the results of monitoring the activities of Mount Slamet from the PGA Slamet Post in Gambuhan Village.

In this case, from June to August 8 2019 there were 51,511 smoke puffs, five local tectonic earthquakes, and 17 distant tectonic earthquakes.

In addition to these earthquakes, at the end of July 2019 tremors began to be recorded with a maximum amplitude of 0.5-2 millimeters and were still ongoing until the time of reporting and the seismic energy was detected to increase gradually.

The measurement of the inclined distance using the EDM method fluctuates and is in a flat pattern, while the measurement of the tiltmeter has detected a deformation starting at the end of July 2019.

Meanwhile, the measurement of the temperature of hot springs at three locations shows a value of 44.8-50.8 degrees Celsius or shows an upward trend compared to the previous measurement.