Five Weeks Of Eruption, Mount Karangetang In North Sulawesi Still In Alert Status

The lava fall on March 9, 2023 at 20:56:04, can be seen from Bebali's CCTV camera which leads to Batuawang River and Kahetang River. (ANTARA)

MANADO - The status of Mount Karangetang in Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province (Sulut), is still on standby level III after nearly five weeks of eruption.

"We are still monitoring the occurrence of lava avalanches from the top of the crater and leading to a number of times," said Karangetang Volcano Observation Post (PGA) Head Yudia P Tatipang as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 13.

The incandescent lava that leads to a number of times moves at different distances.

The results of reports of volcanic activity from 00.00 to 06.00 WITA, said Yudia, visually the mountain was clear to the fog with the crater smoke being observed to be white with moderate to thick intensity and 50-100 meters high above the crater peak.

Meanwhile, lava avalanches lead to goods about 1,800 meters, times Timbelang, West Beha, approximately 750 meters to 1,750 meters, while towards the Batu Awang River and Kahetang River about 700 to 2,000 meters.

Gempatan activity was recorded as hybrid/phase once with an amplitude of 17 millimeters, S-P: 0 seconds, duration 13 seconds. Recorded by a continuous tremor (microtremor) with an amplitude of 0.5 to 18 millimeters (two millimeters dominant).

"Seismics are dominated by earthquake avalanches," he said.

Yudia continues to hope that visitors or tourists comply with the hazard radius of Mount Karengetang in order to avoid the volcanic danger of one of the active volcanoes in North Sulawesi.

Mount Karangetang erupted with an effusive type ( lava liquefied) on February 8, 2023, after an increase in activity, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the Geological Agency for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) then raised its status from alert level II to level III alert.