Mount Sinabung Erupts and Status Raised to Alert, Bobby Issues Directive

North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has urged the public to remain vigilant after Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency erupted with an ash column reaching 3,500 metres above the summit on Monday (31/8) morning.

The volcano’s status has been raised from Advisory (Level II) to Alert (Level III) following the eruption.

“It is now at Level III, Alert. We from the province certainly urge the public to remain vigilant and careful, especially regarding health and road safety,” said Bobby Nasution in Medan.

He said the North Sumatra provincial government has brought 15,000 masks to distribute to residents affected by the volcanic ash fall.

Fire engines have also been placed on standby to clear accumulations of volcanic ash.

“We from the provincial government, as soon as the eruption occurred this afternoon, brought 15,000 masks and together with the Regent we will have fire engines on standby to clean critical points so the ash does not pile up too much,” he said.

Regarding learning activities, Bobby said schools have not yet been closed because authorities are still monitoring the latest conditions. If Mount Sinabung’s activity continues to increase, distance learning will be implemented.

“We will observe for one day. If the ash is indeed heading entirely towards Berastagi, schools will not be closed, but distance learning will be implemented,” he said.

Meanwhile, Karo Regent Antonius Ginting said a radius of 4.5 to 5 kilometres from Mount Sinabung’s crater is now off-limits for activities. So far, no evacuees have been recorded.

“A radius of 4.5 to 5 kilometres is now prohibited for activities. There are no evacuees yet,” said Antonius Ginting.

Earlier, Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, erupted on Monday (31/8) at around 10.17 a.m. Western Indonesia Time. The observed ash column height reached 3,500 metres above the summit, or 5,960 metres above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be black with thick intensity, leaning towards the east and southeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 120 mm and a duration of approximately 1 hour, 1 minute and 48 seconds.

Mount Sinabung last erupted in 2022.