Mount Merapi Experienced 90 Earthquakes Falls

YOGYAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) stated that Mount Merapi on the border of DI Yogyakarta and Central Java experienced 90 earthquakes during the observation period on Tuesday (23/8) at 00.00-24.00 WIB.

Head of BPPTKG Agus Budi Santoso said that apart from avalanche earthquakes, during the observation period, there were 63 multi-phase earthquakes, two shallow volcanic earthquakes, and six gusts.

Based on visual observations, white smoke can be seen coming out of Mount Merapi with a thin to medium to thick intensity with a height of about 50 meters above the peak.

During the observation period, eight lava avalanches were recorded out of the mountain with a maximum sliding distance of 1,200 meters to the southwest.

The deformation or changes in the shape of Merapi's body, which was monitored by BPPTKG using electronic distance measurement (EDM) on August 23, 2022, showed an average distance shortening rate of 0.3 cm in three days.

Meanwhile, Agus said, based on the results of morphological analysis in the period 12-18 August 2022, no changes in the height of the southwest dome were observed.

"As for the middle dome, no significant morphological changes were observed," he said.

The volume of the southwest lava dome was recorded at 1,664,000 cubic meters, and the central dome at 2,772,000 cubic meters.

Until now BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert.

Lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas in the south-southwest sector which include the Boyong River (a maximum of five km) and the Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng Rivers (a maximum of seven km).

In addition, lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas in the southeastern sector which include the Woro River (a maximum of three km) and the Gendol River (a distance of five km).

If the volcano experiences an explosive eruption, then the ejection of volcanic material can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.