Mount Ibu Halmahera Launches Abu As High As 1,000 Meters

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported an eruption that ejected ash as high as 1,000 meters from the crater of Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island, North Maluku.

Mount Ibu Observation Post Officer, Ahmad Basuki, said the eruption occurred at 13.37 WIT, Friday, June 23.

"The ash column was observed to be white with thick intensity leaning towards the northeast," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Ahmad explained that the eruption was recorded via a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 23 millimeters and a duration of approximately 39 seconds.

The threat of an eruption is still far from the residential location which is 6-7 kilometers from the crater.

PVMBG stated that Mount Ibu is still in level II status or alert as of December 10, 2013 until now.

PVMBG recommends that residents do not move within a two-kilometer radius and a sectoral expansion of 3.5 kilometers to the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater.

In the event of ash rain, people who are active outside the home are advised to use a nose, mouth (mask), and eyes (glasses)

Mount Ibu is a volcano-type volcano located northwest of Halmahera Island, North Maluku.

The top of the mountain is a volcanic crater. The crater center is one kilometer wide and 400 meters deep, while the outer part is 1.2 kilometers wide.