The volcanic activities of Mount Agung in Karangasem regency, Bali, has been approaching a critical stage.
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Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Avoiding exposure to volcanic ash from Mount Agung, students go to school wearing masks in Sibetan village, Bebandem district, Karangasem regency, Bali, on Wednesday (29/11).
KARANGASEM, KOMPAS — The volcanic activities of Mount Agung in Karangasem regency, Bali, has been approaching a critical stage following its eruptions from Saturday to Wednesday (21/11-29/11) at 11 p.m. local time. Magma paths toward the surface were opening toward the crater, with magma penetrating the surface of the crater. Therefore, the alert level was elevated and residents within 10 kilometers of the crater have been ordered to evacuate.
The Mt Agung Observation Post of the the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazards Mitigation (CVGHM) in Rendang district recorded eruptions that spewed high-pressure volcanic ash on Wednesday at 5:25 p.m. local time. The eruptions were accompanied by a loud cracking sound that was heard by residents within 7 kilometers, followed by a continuous 24-milimeter seismicity for nearly an hour.
The Eastern Region head of the CVGHM, Devy Kamil Syahbana, said it had urged residents to be alert and not to panic when leaving the 10-km danger zone around the crater.
"The thermal anomalies that were observed were twice as great as those on Monday. Therefore, all preparations must be intensified. The magmatic penetration of the crater’s surface has been strengthening according to the energy released through earthquakes and eruptions," said Devy on Wednesday evening at the Mt Agung Observation Post.
Devy explained Mt Agung\'s volcanic radiative power (VRP) measured 97 megawatts (MW) on Tuesday (28/11), much greater than the 51 MW recorded the previous day.
"Yesterday, neither the magma path nor its exit points had opened. Any earthquakes, whatever their intensity, have to be examined because they indicate any large movement of magma," he said.
Residents of Bukit village in Kubu district found a lava stream that resembled thick cement. The lava stream had been flowing since Monday although it had not rained, and hardened as it flowed.
Irregular logistics
The number of evacuees has risen as of Wednesday. The Mt Agung Readiness Command Post had registered 38,000 people across 255 evacuation points. However, Kompas observed that the distribution of logistics was irregular. Several evacuees at evacuation centers had not received food aid or basic commodities such as rice and cooking oil, while some evacuation centers were using their own supplies to prepare meals.
In Jakarta, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that evacuating people from Mt Agung eruption disaster zones was the main priority. The President had ordered relevant institutions to proceed with the evacuations as soon as possible. For their safety, he urged those in the danger zones to evacuate to safe locations.
"Those in the radius of 8 to 10 kilometers [from the crater] must evacuate for their own safety. I have ordered the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police, National Search and Rescue Agency (BNPP), and related ministries to support to the regional government in Bali,” Jokowi said on Wednesday (29/11).
Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport reopened at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, following its closure on 7:15 a.m. local time on Monday (27/11). The decision to reopen the airport was taken after the Cempaka tropical cyclone, which greatly affected wind currents in Bali, had weakened.
‘Cempaka’ cyclone
Based on the evaluation results at Wednesday afternoon’s meeting of airport management with several parties, including the airport’s Meteorology Station, the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on the airport closure was lifted.
"We evaluated the latest condition of the airport in considering the weather, distribution of volcanic ash, data from the BMKG [the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency] and the VAAC [Volcanic Ash Advisory Center] in Darwin, pilot reports from Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon, and the results of a paper test at the airport. We concluded that the NOTAM on the airport closure could be lifted," Airport Authority Region IV head Herson said in Badung.
In Denpasar, I Ngurah Rai Meteorology Station head Bambang Hargiyono said that Bali airspace was free of volcanic ash as a result of changes in wind direction from southwesterly to southeasterly winds.
"The wind direction changed as the Cempaka tropical cyclone in southern Java weakening," said Bambang. "This affected the spread of volcanic ash, which initially moved from the north to the southwest and is now moving from the north to the south, into Balinese waters, with a more southeasterly tendency," he said.
Yanus Suprayogi, the general manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, which manages I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport, said the company had been preparing to resume the airport’s operations since Wednesday evening. Yanus added that the decision to reopen the airport taken after considering various aspects, mainly passenger security and safety.
