Rainy Season Brings Cold Lava Potential On Volcano Slopes, Residents And Sand Mining Workers Are Asked To Be Alert

Illustration. Ile Lewotolok Volcano in Lembata Regency, NTT. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has asked the community and sand mining workers around the volcano to be actively aware of the potential for cold lava flooding following the rainy season in the country.

Ahmad also said that people around the slopes of active volcanoes always coordinate with local volcanic observation posts. Several volcanoes that have the potential to experience cold lava floods, including Mount Semeru in East Java, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Mount Ibu and Mount Dukono in North Maluku, as well as Mount Lewotobi Male and Mount Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). If mixed with water, it will become mud.

Ada empat faktor dalam pembentukan lahar, yaitu penumpukan material hasil erupsi, air hujan, gravitasi, dan bentuk lembah. Jika keempat faktor itu terpenuhi, maka material yang mengendap di lembah-lembah gunung api bisa turun ke bagian hilir sungai dan menciptakan banjir lahar dingin.Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) mengungkapkan, angin barat atau Monsun Asia pembawa hujan telah tiba di Indonesia pada awal Januari 2024.Kedatangan Monsun Asia tersebut menjadi penanda musim hujan setelah sebelumnya mundur dari jadwal seharusnya pada November 2023 akibat pengaruh El Nino.

BRIN Climatologyset Erma Yulihastin said the start of the rainy season was delayed by up to five bases due to El Nino's influence. Whereas normally the wind from the north or west already existed in November the second basis, but in January the basis of one new existed.