The situation at Mount Agung as seen from cold Lava Dam in Tianyar village, Kubu district, Karangasem regency, Bali, Wednesday (20/9). High seismic activity resulted in the status of Mount Agung being upgraded to awas (danger).
KARANGASEM, KOMPAS — The status of Mt Agung in Bali on Friday (22/9) at 8:30 was increased to awas (danger), the highest status for a volcano. Thousand of residents evacuated and tourists were instructed to postpone their visits to tourist sites around the volcano.
Until Friday night, there had been increased activity at the volcano. Since midnight to midday on Friday, there were 791 tremors. The number increased from the same period on Thursday (21/9) with 466 tremors. In fact, the number of tremors in the daytime on Friday was higher than the total tremors on Thursday with 759 tremors.
The increased volcanic activities resulted in the Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) increasing the volcano’s status from siaga (alert) to awas. With the new status, the disaster prone area was expanded from the radius of 6 kilometers to 9 kilometers.
Residents within a 9-12 kilometer radius to the southeast, south, southwest, north and northeast of the volcano must be evacuated. “Currently, the activity of Mt Agung is very high as seen from the increased tremor activity. It has been detected that magma is moving to the surface,” PVMBG head Kasbani said.
He said the magma chamber was estimated to be located 5 kilometers down the surface. The location of the magma chamber may change. Residents in the southeast, south, northwest, north and northeast of the volcano must stay cautious.
Keep flowing
The number of displaced people continued to increase on Friday. Some of them were transported in trucks while others were in their own vehicles. They were transported in trucks with their belongings. Others rode motorcycles with their belongings.
At present, there are 9,421 displaced people at 50 camps. Hundred of others are assumed to be staying with relatives.
Some camps do not have proper facilities. Residents who took in displaced people on their own initiative around Rendang village, for example, sleep in an open hall with asbestos roof. They sleep on mattresses that they brought from home. There are also no toilets.
“It is very cold at night. A jacket and blanket are not thick enough. Yet, it is better than staying at home, which is not safe,” said Nyoman Suwarta, 44, from Banjar Kesimpar.
Even though many residents have taken in people, there are still many people who remain in their villages. Until Friday night, the police continued to check residents who were still at their homes.
Meanwhile, people outside the danger zones initiated to ask for donations in the form of logistics and money.
Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency head Dewa Indra attempted to coordinate the channeling of the logistics. He said the self-help donations from the people could be channeled through the Mt Agung Disaster Relief Post in Tanah Ampo, Karangasem.
Bali Tourism Agency head Anak Agung Yuniarta said the recommendation not to visit Karangasem was necessary because his office was prioritizing the safety of people and followed official information on the update of Mt Agung.
He planned to open an information post regarding tourism affairs related to the status of Mt Agung. Ngurah Rai International Airport was also ready in the event the eruption affected its operations. The airport has opened a post and provided land transportation to the Ubung bus terminal, Denpasar and to Gilimanuk Port in Jembrana.
Coordination
Separately, after visiting the grave of national hero Arie Frederik Lasut at Sasanalaya cemetery in Yogyakarta, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said the intensity of volcanic tremors of Mt Agung had increased in the past 24 hours. His office would coordinate with the Karangasem regency administration to take further measures.
His office would send officials to the Mt Agung Observation Post in Karangasem to meet with the local administration. It also continues to communicate with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Referring to the latest update, Jonan said the condition of Mt Agung was alarming. However, he hoped the mountain would remain stable and not erupt.
Regarding Mt Agung, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said he was considering relocating the venue of the fourth Asia-Europe Transport Ministers Meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Nusa Dua, to Jakarta.
“I am discussing this issue because there will be many transportation ministers from Asia and Europe that will come,” Budi said.
If the activity of Mt Agung is not too dangerous and the meeting can take place in Bali, the Transportation Ministry already has some alternative plans to relocate the delegates.
The ministry’s secretary-general Sugihardjo said the 1963 eruption of Mt Agung did not impact Denpasar because of its distance from the location. “We need to think about flights. Would it erupt and force closure of the airport? If so, I have prepared land transportation. So, evacuation procedures would be directed to Banyuwangi and Surabaya,” he said.
