PVMBG Raises Alert Status of Mount Tangkuban Parahu
Head of the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Kasbani at a press conference on Mount Tangkuban Parahu situation in Jakata, Friday (2/8). (Photo by: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources PR).
The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has raised the alert status of Mount Tangkuban Parahu in West Java from level 1 (normal) to level 2 (caution).
“We urge the locals and tourists in Mount Tangkuban Parahu area not to approach the crater at the summit of the mount within a radius of 1.5 kilometers,” Head of the PVMBG Kasbani said in a press conference at the PVMBG office, Jakarta, Friday (2/8).
According to Kasbani, the alert status is raised following two eruptions in a row after the last eruption occurred on Friday (26/7). The PVMBG recorded that the mountain erupted again on Thursday (1/8) at 20:46 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) and on Friday (1/8) at 00:43 WIB. “The status may change at any time,” he added.
Based on visual observation, post-eruption activity of the mount on 26 July 2019 was still dominated by low to moderate pressure of white smoke from the main crater with a height of about 20 – 200 meters from the bottom of the crater.
In relation to seismic activities, the mountain is still dominated by continuous gusts and tremors with a maximum amplitude of 0.5-31 mm (dominant 0.5-20 mm), Kasbani said.
Furthermore, he explained that the current threats to the surrounding residents are ash rain and volcanic gases with fluctuating concentrations around Ratu crater of the mountain.
“Phreatic eruption and ash rain around the crater have the potential to occur without any obvious volcanic symptoms,” he further said, adding that he urged the residents to remain calm and not to believe unverified rumors.
“The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center always coordinates with the West Java provincial government’s BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency) as well as West Bandung and Subang regencies’ BPBD,” Kasbani concluded. (Humas Kementerian ESDM/ES)
Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Mia Medyana
