The Ranakah Children's Mountain Monitoring System In Manggarai Is Renewable, PVMBG: Anticipation Of Damaged Analog Devices

Visual Mount Anak Ranakah in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. (ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

NTT - Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has modernized Mount Anak Ranakah monitoring tools in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to produce accurate data.

"From PVMBG, the installation process is temporary," said Mount Api Observer Ranakah's son, Vinsensius Tuku when contacted from Kupang, Monday, February 26, confiscated by Antara.

Modernization of volcanic monitoring tools is an effort by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources so that volcanic observation posts can produce accurate monitoring data.

The Geological Agency has also recorded an additional modernization of 12 developments in the volcanic monitoring system in 2023, one of which is the Ranakah Children's Volcano on Flores Island.

Mount Api Anak Ranakah is a volcano that is at an altitude of 2,350 meters above sea level and is now in normal status or Level I.

Currently, the Ranakah Children's Volcano Observation Post conducts analog monitoring through seismometers in the field at a seismic station.

Every vibration caught will be sent via a delivery antenna installed in the field and received with a receiving antenna at the observation post, then convection into earthquake data via seismograph.

However, by modernizing the equipment carried out by PVMBG, the Ranakah Children's Volcano Observation Post received two additional seismic stations.

The post also received an additional Tiltmeter, namely a mountain deformation measuring device that functions to detect the development or deflation of the mountain body.

In addition, CCTV is also provided to monitor volcanic activity visually.

"There are also stations that have just been installed with GPS and digital monitoring tools are also installed to anticipate if analog equipment is damaged, all of which are temporarily in process," he explained.

Vinsensius said the additional five equipment stations were located at the top of the mountain, then in the Rana Mese, Mano, Ranapoja, and Rondo Woing areas.

Through the modernization of equipment, he said officers could be easier to carry out the monitoring process of volcanic activity.

"And if there is more than one seismic station then there is a comparison to determine the volcanic activity itself," said Vinsensius.

Based on the Level I or Normal activity level, PVMBG recommends the community around Mount Anak Ranakah as well as visitors and tourists or climbers not to be active in the active crater area, and not to approach the gas seepage hole around the crater.

This must be done to avoid potential toxic gases and also limit activities (not to linger) around the crater area.