Alert Status! Mount Dukono Continues To Erupt, Climbing Is Prohibited

Illustration of mountain eruptions (ANTARA)

TERNATE - Dukono Volcano Observation Post (PGA) in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku asked the public to comply with the circular ban on climbing issued from the local PGA Post, because Mount Dukono is still in eruption at any time.

"People around Mount Dukono and visitors and tourists should not do activities, climb, and approach the Maupang Warirang crater within a 4 kilometer radius," said PGA Dukono Post officer, M Saum Amin, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 26.

The circular of the ban was conveyed considering that currently the condition of the volcano as high as 1,087 meters above sea level is still at level II or Alert status.

He explained that today at around 09.23 WIT, Mount Dukono erupted by ejecting a column of ash which was observed as high as 1,100 meters above the top of the mountain with a gray ash column.

This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with an amax of 34 mm and a duration of 58.67, seconds and the wind blows moderately to strong to the east and northeastern, and leads to Tobelo City and its surroundings.

"The distance of activity points with residential areas is 10 to 15 kilometers," he said.

At around 07.30 WIT, said M Saum Amin, Mount Dukono erupted by ejecting ash as high as 1,000 meters, the ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity leaning towards the east.

"Considering that eruptions with volcanic ash periodically occur and the distribution of ash follows the direction and speed of the wind, so that the ash runway area is not fixed," he said.

Therefore, people around Mount Dukono are asked to always provide masks or nasal and mouth coverings for use when needed to avoid the threat of volcanic ash in the respiratory system.