Hundreds of people take refuge at the Swecaura Stadium evacuation post in Klungkung regency, Thursday (21/9). The evacuees came from several villages located within a7-kilometer radius of Mt. Agung in Karangasem regency, Bali, following the increasing frequency of the mountain’s volcanic activities since Monday evening. The government, in cooperation the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency, has prepared more than 10 evacuation posts capable of accommodating about 200,000 people if and when the mountain erupts.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Twenty of the 127 volcanoes in Indonesia show increasing activities. A volcano that has been declared the highest alert level of awas (danger) and has continued to erupt since 2013 is Mt Sinabung in North Sumatra. Meanwhile, Mt Agung in Bali, whose alert level was increased three days ago to siaga (caution) is also expected to erupt.
“There is increased activity at some volcanoes. But, there is no connection [between these volcanoes]. Each volcano has its own system. It is a coincidence that their activities are increasing [at the same time],” Gede Suantika, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center’s volcano disaster mitigation head, said on Thursday (21/9).
Another volcano that shows increasing activity, Gede said, was Dieng Plateau in Central Java. Mt Dieng’s status was increased on Sept. 14 from normal to waspada (alert) after the increasing frequency of earthquakes around Sileri crater.
The potential dangers from the increasing volcanic activity in Dieng are mainly freak eruptions, mud rain, and pyroclastic flow from Sileri crater. People have been told not to approach closer than a 1-kilometer radius around the crater. Another potential danger comes from the higher concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from Timbang crater, which can cause death. Residents have been told not to dig deeper than 1 meter around the crater.
In addition to Mt Agung and Dieng, three other volcanoes have also shown higher than normal activities in recent months or years: Mt Banda Api in Maluku and Mt Dempo in South Sumatra, both of which have been on alert status since April 5, and Mt Kerinci, which has been on alert since Sept. 9.
Residents evacuate
Thousand of villagers within a 7-kilometer radius of Mt Agung in Karangasem regency, Bali, have been evacuating since Wednesday evening (20/9). Residents continued to arrive through the following evening, either on their own initiative or escorted by officials, to six locations prepared by the regional administration and the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency.
They were in a panic following an earthquake and thundering sounds, especially at night. Since Mt Agung’s warning level was declared “danger” from Monday night (18/9) to Thursday night (21/9), the frequency of quakes has continued to rise. The Mt Agung Observation Post in Rendang village, recorded on Wednesday (20/9) 563 deep quakes and 8 shallow quakes. On Thursday night, officials recorded more than 400 quakes in 18 hours.
Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika has inspected and ensured that the refugee camps were comfortable. He hoped the citizens would follow the rules and take refuge.
At Swecapura sports hall, evacuees slept on matrasses laid out at a basketball court. Several tents had also been erected on a field outside the sports hall.
Evacuees at the sports hall are given blankets and food. Officials also installed a projector and screen in a room at the sports hall for watching television programs. However, some people returned home during daylight hours to check and feed their cattle.
Still high
Mt Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, is still showing high volcanic activity. The mountain continues to erupt, spewing ashes, and frequent tremors indicate strong pressure and energy building in the magma chamber.
Mt Sinabung Observation Post head Armen Putra said that within the last week, Mt Sinabung had erupted three times a day, spewing volcanic material to a height of 500 meters to 1,500 meters. Debris also continued to rain down three times a day to a distance of 1,500 meters from the crater.
“The volcanic activity at Mt Sinabung remains high. We expect residents to stay on alert,” he said.
Armen said a white ash cloud with low pressure had also formed at a height of 50-500 meters above the crater, indicating strong pressure from the top of the volcano.
Low frequency quakes continue 10-13 times a day, indicating high pressure and energy build-up from the magma chamber to Mt Sinabung’s crater.
