Volcanic Activity Increases, Residents Are Reminded Not To Approach Bromo Crater Rim

Warning of increased volcanic activity of Mount Bromo. ANTARA/HO BPBD East Java

JAKARTA - The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has warned residents not to approach the crater rim of Mount Bromo at a radius of 1 kilometer following an increase in volcanic activity.

The East Java BPBD chief executive, Gatot Soebroto, said that his party had taken several preventive measures to raise the level of the Bromo volcano to level 2.

"These efforts include closing a 1-kilometer radius from the crater rim for tourist and trade activities, conducting socialization and joint agreements with tourism service actors (jeep, horse and street vendors association) regarding the prohibition for activities within a 1-kilometer radius, outreach to tourists not to carrying out activities within a 1-kilometer radius and giving announcements to visitors on Bromo entry tickets," he said as reported by ANTARA, Sunday, February 12.

Regarding the increased volcanic activity, he said, the East Java BPBD also held a coordination meeting dealing with the eruption of Mount Bromo.

According to him, the increasing status and activity of Mount Bromo in recent times has prompted the East Java BPBD to take preparedness actions in the form of coordination meetings (rakor) involving various elements and regions.

The preparedness meeting for the eruption of Mount Bromo was held in the Alert Room of the East Java BPBD Office by presenting a Seismologist from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hetty Tiastuty.

Present at the coordination meeting were representatives from Bromo Tengger and Semeru National Parks (TNBTS), the East Java Forestry Service, East Java Disbudpar, BPBD, Disbudpar, and Satpol PP from four regions, namely Probolinggo, Malang, Lumajang and Pasuruan Regencies.

"One of the important points in the discussion of the coordination meeting this time is the handling of traders who have sprung up in the area of ​​Mount Bromo's sea of ​​sand," he said.

He said the whereabouts of dozens of traders were under discussion, given their presence in the Disaster Prone Area (KRB) III area, which according to PVMBG should be avoided for activities, especially when the status of the volcano rises to Level II (Waspada).

This is also in line with the release of PVMBG on 4 February 2023 which appealed to the community around Mount Bromo, including traders, visitors, tourists and climbers not to enter the crater area within a 1 kilometer radius of the active crater of Mount Bromo.