ITB Expert: Climbing Mount Dukono Must Not Be Done at All Currently
Bandung (ANTARA) - A volcanology expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Dr Mirzam Abdurrachman, has emphasised that climbing activities to Mount Dukono in North Halmahera, North Maluku, must not be undertaken at all following the increase in its status to Level 3 (Alert) since 17 April 2024.
This firm measure has become the main focus to break the chain of recklessness among climbers who chase popularity for social media content amid fatal threats from volcanic bombs and hot ash clouds following the recent eruption there that claimed lives.
“Safety cannot be replaced by our pleasure, our popularity, getting likes from videos or photos when we can take selfies during an eruption,” said Mirzam in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday.
The lecturer from the Petrology, Volcanology, and Geochemistry Expertise Group at ITB’s Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology explained that the strict prohibition is based on the consecutive escalation of Dukono’s volcanic activity.
In August 2024, the safe radius recommendation was 3 kilometres (Level 2/Vigilant), which then expanded to 4 kilometres in December 2024. Currently, with Level 3 status, this most active volcano is completely closed to all forms of visits.
“If previously the safe distance was up to 4 kilometres, now climbing is not allowed for any reason,” he emphasised.
According to him, volcanic eruptions propel materials that are far more deadly and unaffected by wind, such as ballistic volcanic bombs, to high-speed hot ash clouds (wedhus gembel).
“Our efforts to see the wind direction only minimise one disaster, namely the fall of volcanic ash carried by the wind,” said Mirzam.
He provided an analogy of the real danger in the field where the speed of the hot ash cloud leaves no room for humans to escape if they have violated the safe limits.
“If what comes out is a wedhus gembel at 150 kilometres per hour, whether climbing up, down, or going anywhere, once it passes, we have no time to run,” he said.
On the other hand, ITB has identified crucial obstacles in disaster mitigation around Mount Dukono, namely language barriers and limited internet access that often hinder official information from the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) from reaching grassroots levels.
As a solution to these barriers, Mirzam encourages the active involvement of customary leaders, village heads, and local guides as bridges for scientific communication so that early warning systems can be fully understood.
“Community figures who are considered elders and trustworthy are central figures who must also be educated,” said Mirzam.
Although it carries high risks, he stated that the visual beauty of an active volcano can still be enjoyed safely by tourists, as long as they comply with all legal and scientific corridors issued by official government authorities, not just personal assumptions or those of local tourism managers.
“Every tourist must seek sufficient information, whether this is the right time, whether it is the most risky or not. That must be weighed. Can we enjoy a volcano during an eruption? Yes, without getting into trouble, as long as we adhere to a certain safe distance,” he said.
Concluding his statement, Mirzam once again delivered a strong message to the entire climbing community and the public at large not to gamble their lives for superficial validation in the virtual world.
“The likes we get and the popularity are not worth the price that must be paid,” he said.
The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources notes that Mount Dukono is currently at Status Level II (Vigilant), with recommendations for communities around Mount Dukono and visitors/tourists not to engage in activities, climb, or approach the Malupang Warirang Crater within a 4 km radius.
Furthermore, given that eruptions with volcanic ash occur periodically and the ash dispersion follows the wind direction and speed, so the ash landing area is not fixed, it is recommended that communities around Mount Dukono always provide masks/nose and mouth coverings for use when needed to avoid the dangers of volcanic ash to the respiratory system.