BPPTKG Records Mount Merapi 7 Times Launching Incandescent Lava Falls Leads To Bebeng And Boyong Rivers

Photo Archives. The incandescent lava of Mount Merapi can be seen from Srumbung, Magelang, Central Java, Sunday (2/4/2023). (ANTARA)

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta has launched incandescent lava seven times during the observation period from 00.00 WIB to 06.00 WIB, today. Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Agus Budi Santoso said that during that period, Merapi's incandescent lava avalanche slid towards Bebeng River and Boyong River. "To the Bebeng River six times with a maximum sliding distance of 1,600 meters, once towards the Boyong river with a sliding distance of 1,500 meters," Agus said as quoted by Antara, Monday, April 3. During the observation period, Mount Merapi was recorded to experience nine avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 3 to 20 mm for 35.64 to 131.28 seconds, one multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 3 mm for 6.84 seconds, and three distant tectonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 3 to 7 mm for 87.08 to 142.4 seconds. Based on the results of the morphological analysis of the Merapi lava dome from Deles 5 Camera Station, Tunggullarum, Ngepos, and Babadan 2 in the period 24 to 30 March 2023, Agus said morphological changes were observed in the southwest dome due to avalanches and hot clouds. avalanches. "There is no significant change to the middle dome," he said. Based on aerial photos on March 13, 2023, the volume of the southwest lava dome was recorded at 1,686,200 cubic meters and the volume of the central dome was 2,312,100 cubic meters. BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert, which has been set since November 2020. According to BPPTKG, Merapi's lava and hot clouds have the potential to slide to Woro River three kilometers from the summit, to Gendol River five kilometers from the summit, to Boyong River five kilometers from the summit, as well as to Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng Rivers up to seven kilometers from the summit. If there is an explosive eruption, the eruption of Mount Merapi's volcanic material can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the summit. BPPTKG also appealed to the public to be aware of the threat of lava hazards in the river channel that originates at Mount Merapi, especially when it rains at the top of the mountain.