PVMBG Urges Residents To Obey Recommendations After Mount Lokon Earthquake Rises

Mount Lokon can be seen from one of the tourist destinations in Kayawu Village/ Woloan Village. BETWEEN A/Karel A Pollakitan

The Geological Disaster Volcanology and Mitigation Center (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources appealed to the public to comply with the recommendations given after the seismic activity of Mount Lokon in Tomohon City, North Sulawesi, was reported to have increased.

"The community or tourists are expected not to approach a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the Tompaluan crater," said PVMBG Head Hadi Wijaya by telephone in Tomohon, Antara, Sunday, November 10.

He also hopes that if there is an eruption and the ash rain of the community will remain in the house, and if you are outside the house, it is recommended to use the nose, mouth (mask) and eyes (glasses).

It is also necessary to be aware of the potential for lahars in rivers that originate from the peak of Mount Lokon, especially during the rainy season. There has been an increase in seismic activity, especially shallow volcanic earthquakes on November 1-8, 2024.

The earthquake increased from 32 events per day until it was recorded that a maximum of 55 incidents on November 7, 2024, while visually the height of smoke had not changed. The crater smoke was measured as high as 10-50 meters above the Tompaluan crater.

Based on instrumental data, it is indicated that there is an increase in pressure in the shallow (surface) after being caught by a shallow volcanic earthquake that is associated with the release of gust gas.

He hopes that the public will be aware of the potential danger of the current danger of Mount Lokon activity, namely the sudden occurrence of a phreatic eruption (eruption caused by magma contact with hydrothermal water) and can be followed by a fromagmatic-magmatic eruption.

Eruption can be accompanied by ejection of incandescent material until lumps and heavy ash rain with or without the flow of hot clouds suddenly arrives. Based on observations, analysis of instrumental data until 7 November 2024 at 12.00 WITA, the activity level of Mount Lokon is still Alert (Level II).