Alert Status, Mount Awu North Sulawesi Earthquake Activity Experiences An Increase

Mount Awu on Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi. (ANTARA-Jerusalem Mendalora)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources noted an increase in earthquake activity on Mount Awu located on Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi (Sulut). Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid said the increase in the number of earthquakes was likely due to magma movement towards shallower depths. "There were detectable symptoms of an increase in volcanic activity related to the shallow magma migration process," he said in a report received, Tuesday, April 2, confiscated by Antara. On March 22, 2024, the Geological Agency recorded a series of deep volcanic earthquakes and shallow volcanic earthquakes at 17.00 WITA and 19.00 WITA. The series of volcanic earthquakes occurred again on April 1, 2024, at 17.50 WITA and 20.45 WITA.

Earthquake energy has increased as detected from the increasing Real-Time Seismic Amplitude Measurement (RSAM) chart. In March 2024, the number of non-harmonic tremors was recorded 5 times with an earthquake length of 40 to 95 seconds. This indicates an increase in surface earthquakes. "Based on visual and instrumental monitoring until April 2, 2024, we state that the activity level of Mount Awu is still at level II or alert," said Wafid.

Gunung Awu menyimpan potensi bahaya berupa erupsi magmatik eksplosif menghasilkan lontaran material pijar dan aliran piroklastik, magmatik efusif menghasilkan aliran lava, maupun erupsi freatik yang didominasi uap, gas gunung api maupun material erupsi sebelumnya.Potensi pembongkaran kubah lava dapat terjadi jika tekanan di dalam sistem magmatik mengalami peningkatan signifikan.Potensi bahaya lain berupa emisi gas gunung api, seperti CO, CO2, H2S, N2 dan CH4. Gas-gas tersebut dapat membahayakan jiwa jika konsentrasi yang terhirup melebihi nilai ambang batas aman.Badan Geologi meminta masyarakat untuk mewaspadai bahaya aliran lahar di sungai-sungai yang berhulu dari puncak Gunung Awu pada musim penghujan.Masyarakat juga diimbau agar tidak mendekati dan beraktivitas di dalam radius tiga kilometer dari kawah puncak Gunung Awu terkait potensi bahaya gas vulkanik konsentrasi tinggi serta lontaran batuan jika terjadi erupsi freatik yang tiba-tiba, tanpa didahului oleh gejala kenaikan aktivitas yang jelas."Radius dan jarak rekomendasi itu akan dievaluasi terus untuk antisipasi jika terjadi gejala perubahan ancaman bahaya," kata Wafid.