Sightings Of The Lava Dome That Appears In Mount Ibu Crater

A lava dome appeared in the western part of the crater of Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Thursday (13/6/2024). (ANTARA/HO-Badan Geological)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported the emergence of a lava dome in the western part of the crater of Mount Ibu located on Halmahera Island, North Maluku

Head of the Volcano Team from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari said it was a new dome that was not previously on Mount Ibu.

"(The lava dome) was formed from previous eruptions, not in an instant," said Tyas, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 13.

The lava dome is a circular bump-shaped bump formed from a strong lava eruption slowly from the volcano.

The lava dome is formed from magma that comes out of the earth, then cools quickly, because there is interaction with the air on the surface.

Tyas revealed that the emergence of a lava dome in Mount Ibu occurred due to the movement of eruption holes and the phenomenon of displacement of the eruption point.

According to him, the lava dome is a natural or common thing to happen at the top of a volcano.

"The potential of the lava dome is collapse which can cause landslides or avalanches that can trigger pyroclastic flow," said Tyas.

Since May 16, 2024 until today Mount Ibu still holds the status of Alert or level IV because volcanic and seismic activity is still relatively high.

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.

Mount Ibu is a strato-type volcano and has a peak height of 1,340 meters above sea level which is administratively included in the area of Ibu District, West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.