The volcanic activity of Mount Sinambung in Karo Regency, North\nSumatra, has increased following an eruption on Monday (31\/8). This\ncondition has prompted the local government, along with relevant\nagencies, to strengthen management efforts and prioritise the safety of\nresidents in the affected areas.<\/p>\n
The eruption, which occurred on 31 August 2026 at approximately 12:00\nWIB, produced an eruption column approximately 3,500 metres above the\npeak, reaching about 5,960 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n
Based on visual and instrumental monitoring, Mount Sinabung\u2019s\nactivity has shown an increase. The volcano\u2019s activity level has been\nraised from Level II (Caution) to Level III (Alert), effective from 31\nAugust 2026 at 12:30 WIB.<\/p>\n
The impact of volcanic ash has been felt in several areas,\nparticularly in Ndokum Siroga Village and Kuta Tengah Village in Simpang\nEmpat District, as well as Payung Village in Payung District. Residents\nof Kuta Tengah Village have been temporarily directed to leave their\narea and evacuate to Sukatepu Village, Naman Teran District.<\/p>\n
As of Friday (4\/9), approximately 208 families or 650 individuals\nhave been recorded as evacuees. Of this number, about 405 individuals\nare currently staying at the Jambur Arih Ersada Evacuation Post in\nSukatepu Village, Naman Teran District.<\/p>\n
The local government is still updating evacuee data to ensure the\nneeds of the affected community can be met accurately, including\nrequirements for food, clean water, sanitation, and protective equipment\nagainst volcanic ash exposure.<\/p>\n
Volcanic Ash Impacts Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to disrupting community activities, volcanic ash rain has\nalso impacted residents\u2019 agricultural land. The total area affected and\nthe extent of the damage are still being assessed by the relevant\nauthorities.<\/p>\n The Karo Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has taken\nseveral management steps. Residents in high-risk areas are continuously\nurged to leave danger zones and move to safer locations.<\/p>\n The BPBD has also distributed masks to residents affected by volcanic\nash as part of efforts to reduce the risk of respiratory issues caused\nby dust exposure.<\/p>\n Coordination with the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and\nPolri (National Police) is also being conducted to ensure field\nconditions remain controlled. One monitoring point is located at the\nMount Sinabung Volcano Observation Post in Ndokum Siroga Village,\nSimpang Empat District.<\/p>\n Patrols are also being carried out in several areas designated as\nprohibited zones for community activity or visits, including the Lau\nKawar Lake area. Based on patrol results, no visitors were found in the\narea.<\/p>\n Road Watering and Public Kitchens Activated<\/strong><\/p>\n To reduce the impact of volcanic ash on the community, road watering\nis being conducted in several areas with high population and traffic\ndensity, including the centre of Berastagi.<\/p>\n The local government has also activated public kitchens to meet the\nconsumption needs of affected residents three times a day. Clean water\nand sanitation needs at evacuation sites are also being prepared as part\nof basic services for evacuees.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Payung Village in Payung District has been temporarily\nplaced on alert. The local government has prepared evacuation measures\nin the event that Mount Sinabung\u2019s activity increases further and\nconditions necessitate residents moving to safer locations.<\/p>\n Educational Activities Adjusted<\/strong><\/p>\n The impact of Mount Sinabung\u2019s activity has also required educational\nactivities to adapt to field conditions.<\/p>\n SD Negeri 040475 Tiga Serangkai is temporarily conducting teaching\nand learning activities at the evacuation post. Meanwhile, junior high\nschool students attending schools outside the village are receiving\npick-up and drop-off services from the Karo Regency Civil Service Police\nUnit (Satpol PP).<\/p>\n This step is being taken to ensure that the education process can\ncontinue while considering the safety of students amidst the volcanic\nactivity.<\/p>\n PVMBG Issues Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on observations of Mount Sinabung on Friday (4\/9) between 12:00\nand 18:00 WIB, thick white smoke was visually observed from the main\ncrater at a height of approximately 300-500 metres above the peak. No\nseismic activity was recorded during this observation period.<\/p>\n The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG)\nrecommends that the public and tourists refrain from activities in\nrelocated villages. The public is also requested not to enter areas\nwithin a 3-kilometre radius of the peak of Mount Sinabung and a sectoral\nradius of 6 kilometres towards the south-southeast.<\/p>\n Residents living or operating near riverbeds originating from Mount\nSinabung are also urged to remain vigilant regarding the possibility of\nlahars.<\/p>\n Evaluations of Mount Sinabung\u2019s activity levels will be conducted\nperiodically or whenever significant changes in volcanic activity\noccur.<\/p>\n The public is advised to remain calm and not panic, but to increase\nvigilance and follow the directions of the local government and relevant\nauthorities.<\/p>\n BNPB, along with the Karo Regency Government, PVMBG, TNI, Polri, and\nother relevant agencies, continue to monitor the developments of Mount\nSinabung while supporting the management of eruption impacts according\nto field conditions.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mount-sinabung-activity-increases-local-authorities-provide-transport-for-students-1788576802",
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