The Lava Slope Of Mount Karangetang, North Sulawesi, Has The Potential To Have An Impact On 3 Residents' Settlements

The lava eruption of Mount Karangetang in Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, threatens three residential areas living around the river that originates from the top of the crater.

"We are currently monitoring the risk of being affected by volcanic material," said Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Sitaro Islands Regency, Sonny Belseran, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.

The potential threat of residents living around the river is the avalanche of hot clouds or the slide of volcanic material carried away due to heavy rains.

"Therefore, we continue to hope that residents will be careful and continue to listen to local government instructions or volcanic observation post personnel," he said.

The three residential areas that received extra attention to the threat of volcanic material from Mount Karangetang were Dompase Village, Central Siau District, Kora-Kora Village (Bebali Village, East Siau District), and Karalung Village, East Siau District.

"Residents living around Kali Batang (Dompase Village), and Batu Awang River (Kora-Kora and Karalung Villages) are expected to remain vigilant," he said.

BPBD of Sitaro Islands Regency, said Sonny, continues to coordinate with the district government (Pemkab) and officers of the Karangetang Volcano Observation Post related to the evacuation.

"If it is already in a dangerous position, after it is coordinated it must be evacuated, then the effort will be carried out. But for now, no evacuation has been carried out to a safer place," he said.

The status of Mount Karangetang has again been raised to Alert, after at the end of April its status was lowered from Alert to Alert.