Four Volcanoes With Standby Status During September 2022, Anything?

Mount Merapi (Photo by Galang Daeng Sena on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) noted that there are four volcanoes in Indonesia with level III status or standby throughout September 2022.

Head of PVMBG, Hendara Gunawan, said the four volcanoes were Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung, Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta and Central Java, and Mount Semeru in East Java.

"Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes, of which there are more than 70 volcanoes in the active type category and the rest are less active, namely type B and type C", said Hendara Gunawan at a press conference on geological disaster information monitored in Jakarta, Thursday, October 6.

Hendra appealed to people who live and work near the four active volcanoes to always be aware of all volcanic activity.

According to him, the level III status indicates the potential if an eruption occurs is approaching the residential areas of the people closest to the mountain.

"Therefore, with this level III, we always remind people who are closest to the mountain to always be aware of any (volcanological) events or by always paying attention to the appeal of the local government or local BPBD", said Hendra.

Based on the results of visual and instrumental observations, PVMBG noted that 17 volcanoes began to show increased activity with level II or alert status.

The 17 volcanoes with alert status are Mount Awu in North Sulawesi, Mount Banda Api in Maluku, Mount Bromo in East Java, Mount Demo in South Sumatra, and Mount Dukuno in North Maluku.

Then, there is Mount Gamalama in North Maluku, Mount Ibu in North Maluku, Mount Ile Werung in East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Karangetang in North Sulawesi, and Mount Kerinci in Jambi.

Next, there are Mount Lokon in North Sulawesi, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Mount Raung in East Java, Mount Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara, Mount Sangeangapi in West Nusa Tenggara, Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, and Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi.

"If level II is generally a smaller potential for eruption than level III, it just doesn't mean it's harmless, it's a different case, this is for climbers who approach the crater", explained Hendra.

"Although the potential is small, if we approach the source of the danger of course this will be a disaster", he added.

PVMBG revealed that there are 47 volcanoes with level I or normal status and zero volcanoes with level IV or alert status. The latest information about volcanoes is available in full on the https://magma.esdm.go.id/ Magma Indonesia page.