Mount Ibu Malut Eruption Lontarkan Abu As High As 800 Meters

DOCUMENTATION/Photo of eruption activity at the Mount Ibu Observation Post, North Maluku, Wednesday (11/10/2023). (ANTARA/Geological Agency)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded an eruption in the form of ash ejections as high as 800 meters out of the crater of Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island, North Maluku.

The eruption occurred at 21:34 WIT vomiting the column of gray volcanic ash with thick intensity leaning towards the northwest.

"Before the ash column was observed, about 300 meters of fire was observed," said the officer of the Mount Ibu Observation Post, Effita Lusy Andriany Saragih, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, October 19.

Eruption was recorded through a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 26 millimeters and a duration of approximately 58 seconds.

From January 1, 2023 to October 19, 2023, PVMBG recorded 43 eruptions coming out of the crater of the most active volcano on Halmahera Island.

The frequent eruption then places the position of Mount Ibu as a volcano with the highest number of eruptions number three in Indonesia.

PVMBG urges the public not to move within a two-kilometer radius and to expand sectorally within 3.5 kilometers towards the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater of Mount Ibu.

In the event of ash rain, people who are active outside the home are advised to use a nose, mouth (mask) and eyes (glasses).

Since December 10, 2013 until now, Mount Ibu still has a level II volcanic disaster hazard status or alert.