Geological Agency: Gempatan Activities Still High On Mount Semeru

DOK ANTARA

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that seismic activity on Mount Semeru was still high, especially earthquake eruptions, earthquake avalanches, harmonic tremors, and deep volcanic earthquakes. "The number and type of recorded earthquakes are still dominated by surface earthquakes, such as earthquake eruptions, earthquake gusts and avalanches. Internal volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors have been recorded more intensively," said Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, April 16. The increasingly recorded internal volcanic earthquake and harmonic tremors indicate the intensive supply of magma from below the surface along with the release of material to the surface as well as the process of buildup of eruptive materials around the Jonggring Seloko crater. The earthquake, which was associated with the lava incident, was also recorded several times. The flood vibration incident recorded by the Geological Agency indicates that there was a lava incident in the river that originates in Mount Semeru, especially the one leading to the Besuk Kobokan flow. Based on monitoring the deformation with tiltmeter equipment and continuous GPS until April 15, 2024, it shows an inflation pattern. Inflation is a phenomenon of pinning the volcanic body and is one of the signs of an eruption. The inflation pattern appears at the bottom and top of Mount Semeru which is correlated with the continued displacement of pressure from within the volcano to the surface along with the release of material during the eruption and gusts.

"Based on the results of the analysis and evaluation, the level of activity of Mount Semeru remains at Level III (Alert) with recommendations that are adjusted to the latest potential hazards," said Wafid.