East Java BPBD Waiting On Study Of Potential Underwater Mountain In South of Pacitan

Photo archive - Appearance of a seamount in the southern waters of Pacitan Regency, East Java. (ANTARA/HO-BIG)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency for East Java Province is still waiting for studies from the Geospatial Information Agency and the National Research and Innovation Agency regarding the potential threat to the existence of a seamount found in the southern waters of Pacitan Regency.

The East Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Chief Executive Gatot Soebroto said that his party was still waiting for a study on the potential of the seamount.

"Whether it can cause an explosion or later it can appear even higher to sea level. This is still in the research process," he said as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 22.

Gatot said that the underwater mountain was formed from a natural phenomenon and currently a number of parties, starting from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to the Pacitan Regency Government, are exploring its potential.

However, the East Java BPBD continues to communicate with the Pacitan Regency BPBD to inform the public that there is no potential threat or danger from the seamount so far.

"We are also still waiting for the evaluation results from the BIG (Geospatial Information Agency) and from BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), what the analysis will be like. As long as the results are not out, we ask the public to always remain calm and carry out their activities as usual," said Gatot.

Previously reported regarding the discovery of a seamount that is at a depth of 3-4 kilometers below sea level about 200 kilometers southwest of Pacitan Regency.

The mountain identified by the Geospatial Information Agency has a height of about 2,300 meters from the seabed and has been around for a long time, but its existence was only recently discovered.