Geology Agency Warns of Increased Activity at Mount Sinabung

Jakarta — The Geology Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has urged the public to heighten caution over increasing volcanic activity at Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, following a rise in seismic activity in recent days.

Acting Head of the Geology Agency, Lana Saria, said in a Jakarta statement on Friday that the increased activity at Mount Sinabung is marked by continuous tremor recorded since Thursday night (21 May).

The PVMBG, the Geology Agency’s Volcano Geology and Disaster Mitigation Team, reported that tremor monitoring results show a tremor with a maximum amplitude of 4 millimetres recorded since 23:53 WIB last night and continuing into the afternoon.

Lana said the heightened activity should be watched because of potential hazards that could occur in the form of a phreatic eruption or magmatic eruption.

In addition, increased pressure within the magmatic system could trigger the collapse of the lava dome in the summit area of Mount Sinabung.

The Geology Agency reminded the public, tourists, and climbers not to engage in activities within a two-kilometre radius of the summit of Mount Sinabung, and a sectoral radius of 3.5 kilometres in the southeast sector of the mountain.

In addition to eruption threats, she said, the public should also be vigilant for secondary hazards in the form of lava flows, especially during the rainy season, which may travel along river channels in the southwest sector that originate at the summit.

The Geology Agency also asked local governments (pemda) and the local Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to continue strengthening coordination with the Sinabung Volcano Observation Post and to urge the public to follow official information related to developments in the volcano’s activity.