BPBD Banyumas Urges People To Calmly Face Mount Slamet Activities

The peak of Mount Slamet can be seen clearly from the direction of Watumas, Purwanegara Village, North Purwokerto District, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Saturday (18/11/2023). (ANTARA/Sumarwoto)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Banyumas Regency, Central Java appealed to the public to remain calm and not be influenced by various issues related to the increase in Mount Slamet's volcanic activity.

"Based on a press release issued by the Geological Agency on November 29, 2024, it was stated that there was an increase in the volcanic seismic activity of Mount Slamet, but we urge the public to remain calm," said Banyumas Regency BPBD Chief Executive Budi Nugroho in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Sunday (1/12).

In this case, he said, the Geological Agency stated that during the observation period from May 9, 2024 to May 19, 2024, there were recorded deep volcanic earthquakes indicating the supply of magma to the surface.

The recorded volcanic earthquake was followed by an increase in the amplitude of continuous tremors and an increase in shallow volcanic earthquakes, frequency earthquakes, and gusts.

Furthermore, on November 28, 2024, a non-harmonic tremor earthquake was recorded at 07.35 WIB to 07.46 WIB followed by an increase in the amplitude of a continuous tremor earthquake.

The results of observations of monitoring data show an increase in pressure under the body of Mount Slamet which can trigger shallow earthquakes and eruptions.

"The Geological Agency states that the potential threat of the danger of Mount Slamet is currently a phreatic and magmatic eruption that can produce the ejection of incandescent material that hit the area around the peak within a radius of 2 kilometers," Budi said, as reported by Antara.

In addition, he said, ash rain can occur around the crater or hit areas determined by wind direction and speed.

Nevertheless, he said that based on the results of visual and instrumental monitoring carried out by the Geological Agency until November 29, 2024 and the potential threat of danger, Mount Slamet's volcanic activity was still at Level II or Alert.

"In this regard, the Geological Agency recommends that people and visitors or tourists not be present or active within a 2 kilometer radius of the summit crater of Mount Slamet. Intensive monitoring is still carried out to evaluate the activities of Mount Slamet by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation," he said.

In addition, he said, the people around Mount Slamet are expected to remain calm and not be provoked by irresponsible news regarding the activities of Mount Slamet and always follow directions from BPBD Central Java Province and BPBD Banyumas Regency.

"Natural tourism objects around Baturraden, Banyumas Regency are also still safe to visit because they are quite far from the crater of the summit of Mount Slamet," said Budi.

The increase in volcanic activity of Mount Slamet, which is located in the districts of Banyumas, Purbalingga, Pemalang, Tegal, and Brebes, last occurred from March to September 2014, followed by an eruption that produced ash material and ejection of incandescent material around the crater (the strombolian eruption type).

Mount Slamet's volcanic activity has increased again at the end of 2023, so that the status of Mount Slamet is at Level II or Alert since October 19, 2023.