Indonesia is a country with many volcanoes. Because this country lies on its three tectonic plates: the Eurasian plate, the Australian plate, and the Pacific plate, this geographical location makes Indonesia vulnerable to natural disasters caused by volcanic activity such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
Now that some of Indonesia’s volcanic activity has risen, the government has asked residents nearby to be more aware and evacuate. The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Kerinci Darifus appealed to the surrounding community to listen to official information from the Kerinci Government and the Kerinche Volcano Monitoring Authority. “Residents need to stay vigilant and listen to official government information. Districts, sub-districts, villages,” he explained.
Mount Kerinci Eruption For 13 Minutes
Mount Kerinci lies on the border of Kerinci, Jambi, and South Solok provinces. West Sumatra experienced another eruption on Thursday, 12th January 2023 at 06.20 am for 13 minutes and 20 seconds long.
“There was an eruption of Mount Kerinci on the border of Jambi and West Sumatra on the 12th January 2023 at 06.20 WIT with an ash column height observed of approximately 600 m above the peak,” said the Kerinci Volcano Observation Officer Irwan Safwan, in Jambi.
Currently, Mount Kerinci is at level II or alert status. The people around the Kerinci volcano and visitors or tourists are not allowed to climb the crater which is at the top of the Kerinci volcano within a three km radius of the active crater.
It’s recommended that the flight path around the Kerinci volcano be avoided because at any time still has the potential for ash eruptions with heights that can disrupt the route flight.
Mount Anak Krakatau Ashes Reach 150 Meters
High smoke from the crater of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait waters between Banten and Lampung reaches 150 meters with observed white, gray, and black.
“Currently, the condition of Mount Anak Krakatau is still at Level III alert status,” said Anggi Nuryo Saputro, the officer for preparing the report which was uploaded via the KESDM Agency’s website Volcanology PVMBG Gunung Anak Krakatau (GAK) Pasauran Observation Post, Anyer, Serang District at 5th January 2023.
Thus, the public, tourists, and climbers are prohibited from approaching GAK or activities within a radius of five kilometers from the active crater.
Also Read: Mount Anak Krakatau Erupted, Leaving Disastrous Aftermath
Mount Marapi Erupted 127 Times
The Regional Disaster Management Board (BPBD) of Agam District, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) has determined that Mount Marapi has erupted 127 times since Saturday, 7th January 2023.
“Today, WIB had 127 eruptions as of 12:00,” said Bambangwarsit, chief executive of Agam province, BPBD, on Wednesday 11th January 2023.
Despite this, Bambang said people around or at the waist of Mount Marapi are still engaged in normal activities. At the time of the eruption, Mount Marapi did not carry any material, so only ash was carried to the Tanah Datar area.
Mount Ijen Has Experienced 18 Earthquakes
Mount Ijen still shows its volcanic activity marked by several volcanic earthquakes. It was recorded from the Ijen Volcano Observation Post (PGA) that from Tuesday 10th January until early morning there were dozens of gusts of earthquakes and shallow volcanic earthquakes.
Mount Ijen PGA officer Suparjan said, from observations of the seismicity of Mount Ijen throughout Tuesday 10th January, there were 13 gusts of earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-27 mm, and earthquake durations of 14-33 seconds.
“One tornillo earthquake with an amplitude of 2 mm, and an earthquake lasting 13 seconds. 18 shallow volcanic earthquakes with an amplitude of 1-6 mm, and an earthquake lasting 6-14 seconds,” said Suparjan in a written statement, on Wednesday.
Despite the increased activity, Mount Ijen remains at Level II or Alert, as determined by Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Volcano Level
The alert status is the most dangerous status in Indonesia’s volcanic activity warning system. There are four states in total, representing volcanic states and volcanic activity respectively.
- Normal
Volcanic activity, seismic activity and other volcanic phenomena based on visual observations did not indicate anomalies.
- Alert
Increased activity in the form of visual anomalies or the result of crater surveys, seismic activity, and other volcanic manifestations.
- Stand by
Visual observations or inspections of craters, seismic activity, and other ways of supporting each other are becoming increasingly clear. Analyzes show that eruptions tend to follow changes in activity.
- Risk
The level at which the first eruption begins to appear in the form of volcanic ash and smoke before the main eruption. Based on the analysis of observational data, a major eruption will follow soon.
