Record 14 Times Of Pijar Lava Drops, BPPTKG Asks To Stop Climbing On Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi emits incandescent lava visible from Tunggularum, Wonokerto, DI Yogyakarta (Photo: Andreas Fitri Atmoko / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) said that Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and Yogyakarta Special Region issued 14 incandescent lava avalanches with a maximum glide distance of 600 meters on Tuesday, January 12.

Head of BPPTKG Hanik Humaida, through a written statement in Yogyakarta, explained that the incandescent lava avalanche that was observed during the observation period on Tuesday at 00.00-06.00 WIB was sliding towards the upper reaches of Kali Krasak.

"There were 14 glows of incandescent lava with a maximum distance of 600 meters to the upper reaches of Kali Krasak," he said.

During these observations, the BPPTKG also recorded 39 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 4-20 mm for 18.2-105 seconds, 5 gust earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-7 mm for 10.6-14.7 seconds, 21 times a hybrid / multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 3- 27 mm for 5.6-13 seconds, and 1 shallow volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 75 mm for 12.4 seconds.

Based on visual observations, the crater smoke is observed to be white with a thick intensity and 200 meters high above the crater peak.

The weather on the mountain was clear and cloudy. The wind is blowing moderately to the east with air temperatures of 15-20 degrees Celsius, humidity 73-90 percent, air pressure 567-686 mmHg.

Previously, during the observation period on Monday (11/1) at 18.00-24.00 WIB, BPPTKG recorded three incandescent lava avalanches coming out of Mount Merapi with a maximum sliding distance of 600 meters towards Kali Krasak.

The BPPTKG maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert. The potential hazard due to the eruption of Merapi is estimated to be within a maximum radius of five kilometers from the summit.

Mining in the rivers whose water reaches Mount Merapi in KRB III is recommended to stop.

BPPTKG asks tourism actors not to carry out tourism activities at KRB III, including climbing to the top of Mount Merapi.