Geological Agency Asks Residents Not To Panic The Bledug Kramesan Phenomenon In Grobogan

The phenomenon of Bledug Kramesan in the Grobogan area, Central Java. BETWEEN/HO-Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources

JAKARTA - Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Muhammad Wafid asked the people around the Bledug Kramesan area, Grobogan Regency, Central Java, not to panic.

"The phenomenon of the occurrence of Bledug Kramesan in the Grobogan area is not an extraordinary phenomenon," Wafid said in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 26.

Moreover, Wafid continued, not far from Bledug Kramesan, there is Bledug Kuwu, which has generally been known by the public as a "mid volcano" phenomenon that has been going on for decades.

Wafid explained that the impact of the earthquake related to the mud mountain was the possibility of opening up fractures that were passed by mud material.

With the opening of these fractures, said Wafid, the material was driven or the seepage of mud would experience an upward movement and there would be additional material discharge.

"However, with the compression and tectonic pressure in the area, there will be a point of balance like before the moment of the earthquake occurs," said Wafid.

The activity of the mudflow that increased after the earthquake in Bawean on March 22, 2024 with a magnitude of 6.5 is thought to have caused the following, such as hydrocarbon and mud migration systems to become more active due to openings in the form of fractures or faults as a result of this shallow earthquake.

The earthquake also caused mud fluctuations in the area around Bledug Kuwu and Bledug Kramesan to find their way out through the fractures formed due to the earthquake.

"The Geological Agency continues to monitor the development of this natural phenomenon," said Wafid.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that a 6.5 magnitude tectonic earthquake in the Java Sea rocked a number of regions in Indonesia, on Friday (22/3), while showing no signs of a potential tsunami.

Head of the BMKGDaryono Earthquake and Tsunami Center revealed that based on reports from the public, this earthquake caused damage on Bawean Island.