140 Times Lava Falls Out Of Mount Merapi Activities

Mount Merapi/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources reports that the eruption activity of Mount Merapi in Central Java is still high, with an average of 140 lava flows per day.

Internal volcanic activity is also still high, indicated by seismicity and deformation data. Internal seismicity (VTB and MP) occurred more than five times per day, while the deformation rate of EDM RB1 was 3.5 mm per day.

"Based on the results of visual and instrumental monitoring, we can conclude that the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi is still at the alert level," said Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Eko Budi Lelono in a statement in Jakarta, Thursday, March 10.

Mount Merapi has potential hazards in the form of lava avalanches and hot clouds in the south to southwest sector covering the Boyong River for a maximum of five kilometers, the Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng rivers for a maximum of seven kilometers.

Meanwhile, the southeastern sector covers the Woro River as far as a maximum of three kilometers and the Gendol River as far as five kilometers.

The Geological Agency recommends that the district governments of Sleman, Magelang, Boyolali, and Klaten, as well as stakeholders in the management of the Mount Merapi disaster, take mitigation efforts in the face of the threat of an eruption that is now occurring.

"People should not carry out any activities in areas of potential danger and anticipate disturbances due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi and be aware of the dangers of lahars, especially when it rains around Mount Merapi," said Eko, quoted by Antara.

The Geological Agency continues to try to mitigate the dangers of Mount Merapi, starting from monitoring, hazard assessment, information dissemination, and socialization of Mount Merapi's activities. .