Six Indonesian volcanoes are on alert and watchful status under full surveillance

Aceh  - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources ensures that all volcanoes in Indonesia will be fully monitored, especially the six volcanoes with alert and warning status whose volcanic activity has increased significantly in the last few days.

"Those that are increasing in activity such as Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, Iya, Marapi and others, will continue to be identified. I think this will be our challenge going forward," said Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid in his statement quoted from Aceh, Saturday.

Based on data on the level of volcanic activity from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency until today, Saturday (9/11), it was reported that there were five volcanoes with alert status and one with alert status.

The mountains with alert status include, Mount Awu (Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi), Mount Ibu (Halmahera Island, Maluku) Mount Iya (Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara), Mount Marapi (Tanah Datar and Agam Regencies, West Sumatra) and Mount Merapi (Central Java - DI Yogyakarta).

Furthermore, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, which since Monday (4/11) early morning has been set to Alert status.

"We always socialize it to the community, especially the local government, the status increase is carried out so that it can be a reference in anticipating every possibility," he said.

Some significant activities observed by the PVMBG Geological Agency, for example, Mount Merapi launched 11 lava avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 1.6 kilometers accompanied by seismic eruption activities, on Friday (8/11).

Most recently, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara spewed volcanic ash approximately 9 kilometers into the air from the peak of the volcano's crater or 10 kilometers from sea level, Saturday morning.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is known to be much larger at least compared to the four eruptions that occurred on Friday (8/11) at 12.00 WITA - 18.00 WITA, which spewed volcanic ash with a column height of 2.5 meters - 8,000 meters.

For that, Wafid ensured that volcanology officers will be the front guard who are always ready not only to observe but also to fully identify every activity of the volcano for 24 hours as has been done so far.

He also committed that the results of these observations can be broadcast quickly and accurately to the public so as to avoid the risk of damage or loss of life due to volcanic activity.

The public can get information on the development of the volcano's condition complete with the results of its analysis recommendations by accessing the Magma Indonesia application, various social media channels @pvmbg_, @kabargeologi, or visiting the volcano observation post in every region in Indonesia.

"As those who are mandated to be the data guardian in this field, we are open to working with all parties, of course, to ensure the safety of the community which is the focus," he said.