Tuesday Morning, Mount Ibu Eruption In North Maluku Vomits 5 Km Volcanic Clouds

The five-kilometer high volcanic ash column was formed due to the eruption of Mount Ibu in North Maluku, Tuesday (4/6/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Volcanic ash clouds as high as approximately five kilometers were formed due to the eruption of Mount Ibu located on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

The officer of the Mother's Observation Post, Richard Chaniago, said the eruption that occurred this morning at 05.36 WIT had a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters and a duration of 148 seconds. "The volcanic ash is gray to black with thick intensity to the west and northwest," said Richard in a report received quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 4. Mother's Sunung is a strato-type volcano and has a peak height of 1,340 meters above sea level which administratively belongs to the area of Ibu District, West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. Since May 16, 2024 until today, Mount Mother is still on alert or level IV because volcanic activity and seismicity are still relatively high. On May 1 to June 1, 2024, the Geological Agency recorded 65 eruption earthquakes on Mount Ibu, 14 avalanches, 4,637 gusts, 235 earthquake harmonics. Then there were also 15 tornillo earthquakes, 21,381 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 648 times the inner volcanic earthquake, 12 times local tectonic earthquakes, 363 times the distant tectonic earthquake, and 1 time the earthquake was felt on Mount Mother.

The Geological Agency recommends the public not to move within a four-kilometer radius and a sectoral expansion seven kilometers to the crater opening in the north of the active crater of Mount Ibu. In the event of ash rain, people who are active outside the home are advised to use a nose and mouth shield (mask), as well as glasses to protect their eyes.