PGA Post: Karangetang Falls Earthquake Activity Is Still High

Mount Karangetang On Siau Island, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi (DOC ANTARA)

MANADO - Head of the Volcano Observation Post (PGA) Yudia P Tatipang said the earthquake activity of Mount Karangetang on Siau Island, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, was still high. "Still high (the avalanche earthquake), residents are expected to be careful," said Yudia in Manado, Antara, Friday, July 14. He said, during the observation period at 00: 00-06.00 today, Pos PGA recorded 45 avalanches with an amplitude of between three and 15 millimeters with a duration of 42-240 seconds. While visually, this morning Mount Karangetang was clearly visible to foggy, while moderate to strong pressure crater smoke was observed to be white with a thick intensity and a height of 50-100 meters above the crater peak. Incandescent lava avalanches were observed towards Kali Kahetang approximately 1,000 - 1,750 meters, while towards Kali Batang it was around 1,000 meters. "The current level of activity of Mount Karangetang is still on Alert Level III," he said. He hopes that residents comply with the hazard radius recommended by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Some of the PVMBG recommendations are the community, visitors, tourists are not approaching, do not climb, and do not move within the hazard forecast zone, namely a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the crater peak of two (northern areas) and the main crater (south), as well as sectoral expansion areas to the southwest, south, and southeast, as far as 3.5 kilometers. The next appeal, he said, was to be aware of avalanches of lava and hot clouds avalanches that could occur at any time from the previous buildup of lava material because its condition was unstable and easily collapsed, especially to the south, southeast, west and southwest sectors.

People living around the banks of rivers that originate from the peak of Mount Karangetang to increase preparedness from the potential threat of rain lava and flash floods that can flow to the coast.