Head Of Geological Agency Affirms Volcano Eruption That Occurs Not Having Mutual Relations

Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Muhammad Wafid. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Muhammad Wafid emphasized that the increase in volcanic activity of the volcano in the near future was not at all related to each other.

Currently, there are 7 volcanoes with Alert and Alert status but eruptions and spread across Sumatra, namely Mount Marapi, Java, Mount Merapi, and Mount Semeru, Sulawesi Island, Mount Ruang, Maluku, Mount Ibu and Nusa Tenggara, namely Mount Leowotobi Laki, Mount Ile Lewotolok.

"The mountains have erupted together since January 2024 with a duration of the eruption crisis from 1 week to month," Wafid said in a virtual press conference for the Volcano Eruption Series in Sumatra-Java-Sulutmalaku and NTT, Thursday 6 June.

Wafid explained that the increase in volcanic activity, which was marked by the eruption, although in the near future, Wafid emphasized that it was not related to each other but occurred due to a series of volcanic earthquakes and their local earthquakes.

"Although the time of the eruption was close to each other in Sumatra-Java-Sulawesi-Maluku and NTT, the eruption incident did not interact with each other. The eruption of each mountain occurred due to the recording of a series of volcanic earthquakes and local tectonic earthquakes as an indication of the movement of magma fluids from a depth of about 15 km to the surface of the mountain itself," continued Wafid.

Wafid gave an example, the eruption incident on Mount Marapi since December 2023 which is still ongoing until now and occasionally the ash eruption has resulted in triggering flash floods on May 11, 2024 and casualties as well as damage to infrastructure connected later with the eruption of Mount Merapi, Mount Semeru and Mount Ile Lewotolok still occurring and the eruption is a series of eruptions from the previous year so that the status of the mountain is maintained at level III (Alert).

"Intensive monitoring continues to be carried out to evaluate volcanic activity throughout Indonesia in coordination with the local government and the Regional Disaster Management Agency," said Wafid.

Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hendra Gunawan confirmed that what was conveyed by the Head of the Agency, the Eruption that occurred was not directly related to tectonic earthquakes.

"Currently PVMBG is modernizing equipment so that in the future PVMBG can be more accurate in determining tectonic earthquakes, precisely where they are, because sometimes if we are less supported by more modern and complete equipment, it is hoped that we can determine the location of a more accurate local tectonic earthquake," said Hendra.