Old Lava Dome Still In Puncak, PVMBG Urges Residents To Be Alert To Hot Clouds Of Mount Karangetang

Volcanic activity in the form of the eruption of Mount Karangetan on Siau Island, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, recently. (Doc. ANTARA/HO-Pos PGA Karangetang)

SITARO ISLANDS REGENCY - Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources hopes that residents will remain aware of the hot clouds falling from Mount Karangetang on Siau Island, Siau Islands Regency, Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro), North Sulawesi.

"Be aware of the presence of hot clouds of avalanches where the old lava dome is still at the top which can at any time collapse along with the release of lava," said PVMBG Head Hendra Gunawan in a report on the activity of Mount Karangetang which was distributed by PGA Karangetang Post in a conversation group in Manado, Thursday.

He also mentioned that the characteristics of the hot clouds falling from Mount Karangetang occurred from the buildup of falling lava or landslides.

Residents are also expected to be aware of the occurrence of rain lava floods through rivers whose water originates in the peak area of Mount Karangetang when it rains.

Based on instrumental observations, seismicity during the period August 8-15, 2023, 731 earthquake avalanches, 115 gusts, and 12 harmonic tremors were recorded.

In addition, 20 times hybrid/many-phase earthquakes, 11 times deep volcanic earthquakes, one local tectonic earthquake, one earthquake was felt on an MMI - I scale and 24 times a distant tectonic earthquake, and a continuous tremor with an amplitude of 0.5-5 millimeters, dominant of two millimeters.

Hendra said, quoted from ANTARA, Thursday, August 17, the activity of the eruption of Mount Karangetang visually, instrumentally, and with potential hazards is still high so that the level of volcanic activity is still at level III or Alert.

At the level of activity, the community, visitors, tourists, or climbers are not allowed to move and approach the area within a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the main crater (south) and crater two (north), as well as 3.5 kilometers in the southwest, south and southeast sectors.