Residents Still Have To Beware Of Volcano Lava And Hot Clouds Of Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi (DOK. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) asked the public to be aware of the avalanches of lava and hot clouds after the eruption of Mount Merapi.

This is based on the results of visual and instrumental observations of Mount Merapi activity on January 22 to 27.

"Potential hazards are currently in the form of lava avalanches and hot clouds in the South-Southwest sector covering the Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng and Putih rivers with a maximum distance of 5 kilometers," said the Head of BPPTKG, Hanik Humaida in his statement, Friday, January 29.

Then, there is still the possibility that the eruption of volcanic material that occurs in the event of an explosive eruption can reach a radius of 3 kilometers from the summit.

Hanik said, in this one week, incandescent lava avalanches were observed 230 times with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters southwest to the upper reaches of Kali Krasak and Kali Boyong.

Hot clouds of avalanche occurred 71 times with a maximum sliding distance of 3,500 meters in the direction of Kali Boyong and were recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 70 mm and a duration of 240 seconds.

"On January 25, 2021, the measured volume of the 2021 lava dome was 157,000 m3. Then on January 28, 2021 it was reduced to 62,000 m3 mainly due to avalanche and hot cloud activity that occurred on January 26 and 27, 2021," he explained.

Previously, Mount Merapi erupted again on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The hot clouds of avalanche of Mount Merapi occurred at 10.13 WIB and were recorded on a seismogram with an amplitude of 69 mm and a duration of 175 seconds.

Currently, Mount Merapi's volcanic activity is still quite high in the form of effusive eruption activity. The activity status is defined in the "standby" level.