Danger Threats, BPBD Bans Sand Mining Activities On The Slope Of Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi on the border of DI Yogyakarta and Central Java. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) reminded the public not to mine sand or stones on the slopes of Mount Merapi.

"All areas of KRB (disaster-prone areas (KRB) III) III should not have activities including mining," said Head of the DIY BPBD Emergency Management Division Lilik Andi Aryanto in Yogyakarta, Thursday, January 25, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, this is in accordance with the recommendations of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG), which is still setting the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert.

He said, KRB III is an area that has the potential to be affected by the ejection of volcanic material, hot clouds, and lava flow during the eruption of Merapi.

"Recommendations are still as before. There has been no change," he said.

Outside of KRB III, Lilik asked for mining activities in rivers upstream of Merapi to temporarily stop when it rains at the peak of Merapi which has the potential to trigger rain lava.

"For the sake of mutual safety, if there is heavy rain to stay away from the river which could potentially cause rain lava," he said.

However, according to Lilik, it requires very heavy rain to push volcanic material at the top to get to the bottom or become a rain lava.

In addition, the rivers upstream of Merapi are still deep enough to accommodate the material from above, plus the presence of Sabo dam at a number of points.

"The potential for material at the top will fall if it rains above 70 mm, then seeing the current condition, the rivers are still deep because of mining activities," he said.

Lilik ensured that the DIY BPBD and the volunteers continued to improve preparedness by intensifying monitoring for 24 hours on the slopes of Merapi.

He said the vigilance of various parties, including the community, needed to be increased to anticipate the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi ahead of the peak of the rainy season.

Previously, the BPPTKG noted that Mount Merapi on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java on Sunday (21/1) experienced one eruption with an unobserved column height and four hot clouds of avalanches which resulted in volcanic ash rain in a number of areas in Central Java.

To anticipate the potential danger of the eruption of Mount Merapi, BPPTKG appealed to the public not to carry out any activities in areas of potential danger.

" Monitoring data shows that the supply of magma is still ongoing which can trigger hot clouds of avalanches in potential hazard areas," said Head of BPPTKG Agus Budi Santoso.

Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) also asked residents in DIY to be aware of the potential for hydrometeorological disasters at the peak of the rainy season which is predicted to occur in February 2024.