Residents Asked To Beware Of The Fall Of Mount Karangetang Lava

The summit of Mount Karangetang can be seen from the west side of Siau Island. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) appealed to residents living downstream to be aware of the lava avalanche of Mount Karangetang in Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi.

"The accumulation of materials resulting from the effusive eruption in the valleys of incandescent lava lanes has the potential to be lava avalanches to the downstream part," said PVMBG Head Hendra Gunawan in a report on the activity of Mount Karangetang distributed by the Head of PGA Karangetang Post Yudia P Tatipang in a group conversation. Info Gunung Api Sitaro in Manado, Thursday.

In the report for the period 16 - 31 March, people living around Mount Karangetang as well as those who will cross valleys / rivers are expected to be vigilant, as well as the potential threat of lava when it rains from the summit.

PVMBG hopes that in the level of activity at Il (alert) the community, visitors, tourists, climbers are not allowed to move and approach areas within a radius of 1.5 kilometers from the main crater (south) and crater two (north), as well as 2.5 kilometers in the southwest and south sectors.

People around Mount Karangetang are advised to prepare a mask covering the nose and mouth, in order to anticipate the dangers of respiratory tract problems in the event of ash rain.

He said the level of activity will be re-evaluated periodically or if there is a significant change in activity, the level of activity is considered fixed if the next evaluation has not been issued.

Intensive monitoring is still being carried out to evaluate the activities of Mount Karangetang by PVMBG.

Hendra also hopes that the community will remain calm, not being provoked by fake news about the eruption of Mount Karangetang and always following directions from the BPBD of North Sulawesi Province and the BPBD of Sitaro Regency.

Likewise, local governments always coordinate with the Karangetang PGA Post in Salili Village, Central Siau District, Sitaro Islands Regency or PVMBG.

"The public and BNPB, BPBD North Sulawesi Province, Sitaro Regency BPBD, and other relevant agencies can monitor the development of activity levels and recommendations for Mount Karangetang at any time through the MAGMA Indonesia application," he said as quoted by Antara.