BPPTKG Notes, Since Saturday Mount Merapi Launched Hot Clouds Falling 60 Times

YOGYAKARTA - The Research and Development Center for Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG) said that as many as 60 hot clouds of avalanches rolled down from Mount Merapi since Saturday, March 11.

BPPTKG Head Agus Budi Santoso said the number refers to the results of a survey by the Geological Agency's Drone Team after the hot cloud fall event on March 11-12 2023.

"March 11-12, 2023 Mount Merapi launched hot clouds towards Bebeng River. Until now, Monday, March 13, 2023, there have been 60 incidents of hot cloud avalanches at Mount Merapi," said Agus in a statement in Yogyakarta, Antara, Monday, 13 March.

Meanwhile, based on aerial photography monitoring using drones, the hot clouds sliding distance reached the furthest 3.7 kilometers from the summit of Mount Merapi.

"The tip of the hot cloud that fell was observed on the southwest side of the Bebeng River channel," he said.

This data corrects the previous BPPTKG report which stated that the maximum sliding distance of hot avalanches was kilometers.

After the series of hot clouds avalanches, Agus emphasized that the status of Mount Merapi is still at the Alert level or Level III.

The potential danger at this time is in the form of lava avalanches and hot clouds that can reach Kali Woro as far as a maximum of 3 kilometers from the peak, while Kali Gendol is 5 kilometers from the peak, Kali Boyong is 5 kilometers from the peak, and Kali Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng as far as 7 kilometers from the summit.

Meanwhile, if an explosive eruption occurs, volcanic material can reach a radius of 3 kilometers from the peak of Merapi.

BPPTKG also appealed to the public to be aware of the dangers of lava, especially when it rains at the peak of Merapi.

"As the rainy season is still occurring in DIY and Central Java, the BPPTKG urges the public to be aware of the danger of lava, especially when it rains at the peak of Merapi," said Agus Budi Santoso.