This Morning, Mount Merapi Sprinkled Hot Clouds As Far As 1.1 Kilometers

Mount Merapi erupts (Photo: BBPTKG documentation)

JAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) noted that Mount Merapo again showed volcanic activity. Most recently, Mount Merapi launched hot clouds of avalanches up to 1.1 kilometers today at 04.55 WIB.

Plt. Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the mountain, located in DI Yogyakarta and Central Java, emitted hot clouds of avalanches for 83 seconds.

"The direction of this volcanic material is to the southwest. On the previous day, the same thing happened at 18:54 WIB with a duration of 85 seconds. At that time the direction of the hot cloud avalanche was towards the southeast with the furthest sliding distance of 1,100 meters," Muhari said in his statement, Friday , July 9th.

Muhari said, Mount Merapi, which continues to show its activity, is at the alert level or level 3 since November 5, 2020. BPPTKG is still determining the potential for sectoral hazards related to the threat of an eruption of Mount Merapi.

"The current potential danger is in the form of lava flows and hot clouds in the southeast to southwest sector as far as 3 kilometers to the Woro River and 5 kilometers to the Gendol, Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng and Putih rivers," he explained.

The level 3 status of Mount Merapi also explains that activities continue to experience an increasingly real increase or eruptions occur, and the threat of eruption danger can be widespread and does not threaten residential areas.

"The ejection of volcanic material in the event of an explosive eruption can reach a radius of 3 km from the top of the mountain," he said.

Muhari recommended the community not to carry out any activities in potential hazard areas. Furthermore, residents are advised to be aware of the dangers of lahars, especially when it rains around Mount Merapi.

Then, mining activities in the river channel that originates from Mount Merapi in the disaster-prone area (KRB) III are recommended to be stopped. Potential KRB III can be in the form of lava flows, lava avalanches, hot clouds of avalanches and incandescent stones.

"Tourists are also asked not to carry out activities in areas of potential danger and crater openings as far as 5 kilometers from the top of the mountain," he said.