Boyolali Activates Village Alert Team After Merapi Eruption

Hot clouds of avalanches slid from the summit of Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java Province and Yogyakarta Special Region on Friday night (1/12/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPPTKG)

JAKARTA - The Boyolali Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency has instructed the activation of the Village Alert Team (TSD) after Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java Province and Yogyakarta Special Region to experience an eruption on Friday (1/12) night.

"We ask for TSD to be activated, patrol, and fully alert," said Head of the Boyolali Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Suratno, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, December 2.

In addition, the Boyolali Regency BPBD plans to invite all elements of the leadership coordination forum in the Selo District District to review the contingency plan on Tuesday next week.

"Tuesday we will invite village heads, sub-district heads, and other Forkopimcam elements to review contingency plans. This is related to increasing community capacity," said Suratno.

He emphasized the importance of increasing mitigation capacity and community preparedness in dealing with the threat of hot clouds falling from Mount Merapi.

Mount Merapi on Friday night (1/12) vomited twice hot clouds of avalanches.

The first hot avalanche cloud came out at 19.27 WIB, heading southwest, towards Bebeng River, with a sliding distance of two kilometers.

Furthermore, at 19.47 WIB, Merapi threw hot clouds of avalanches with a sliding distance of 1,200 meters to the south, towards Kali Boyong.

The activity status of Mount Merapi is set to be at level III or Alert since November 5, 2020.

The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) conveyed the potential danger due to lava avalanches and hot clouds of Mount Merapi in the south-southwest sector which includes the Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng rivers as well as the southeast sector which includes the WorodanGendol River.

In addition, if an explosive eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.

BPPTKG advises residents not to carry out any activities in areas of potential danger and to be aware of the impact of volcanic ash and lava flows from Merapi.