PVMBG: The Seismicity Of Mount Awu In The Sangihe Islands Is Still Above Normal

The volcanic activity of Mount Awu in the Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Monday (22/8/2022) was still above normal. PHOTO ANTARA/HO-PVMBG

SANGIHE - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) stated that the volcanic seismicity of Mount Awu in the Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi (North Sulawesi) since its status was raised in May 2022 is still above normal.

"The seismicity is still fluctuating, but it's still above normal," said PVMBG report author Tommy Luhut Marbun in Manado, Monday, August 22.

Under normal circumstances, volcanic earthquakes are recorded only two or three times, but currently it is over 10 times per day.

"We periodically report the volcanic activity for six hours," he said.

According to Tommy, there is no information on whether the status of Mount Awu, which is currently on alert level III, will be lowered to alert level II.

"Indeed, when compared to seismic activity in May, it has started to decline. But we cannot confirm whether the status will go down to level II, maybe it is still being evaluated," he said.

He hoped that residents would comply with the recommendations issued by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) in order to avoid unwanted things.

PVMBG recommends that the public and visitors/tourists do not approach and engage in activities within a radius of 3.5 kilometers from the crater of the summit of Mount Awu.

The community is also expected to remain calm, not to be provoked by issues regarding the activities of Mount Awu which cannot be accounted for, and to follow directions from the Regional Disaster Management Agency for the Sangihe Islands Regency.

In addition, the community and local government and other relevant agencies can monitor the development of the activity level and recommendations of Mount Awu at any time through the available MAGMA Indonesia application.