Mount Sinabung erupts; temporary closure of 9 national parks
Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, experienced a violent eruption on Monday morning, spewing a thick volcanic ash column approximately 3,500 metres, or 3.5 kilometres, above its summit.
Lana Saria, Head of the Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), reported from Jakarta on Monday that the eruption was recorded from 10.17 a.m. Western Indonesia Time and was still ongoing.
“The ash column was observed to be black with thick intensity, leaning towards the east and southeast. This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 120 mm and a duration of approximately 1 hour 1 minute 48 seconds,” she said.
Volcanic ash from the Mount Sinabung eruption blanketed the town of Berastagi in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, prompting residents and road users in the area to exercise greater caution against the effects of volcanic ash.
The Regional Education Office Branch IV of the North Sumatra Provincial Education Office urged all students and teachers in schools affected by the eruption to wear masks as a precaution against exposure to volcanic ash, which can harm health, particularly the respiratory system.
Zulkarnain Barus, Head of the Regional Education Office Branch IV in Karo, said in Kabanjahe on Monday that the safety and health of students and teaching staff were a priority amid the heightened volcanic activity of Mount Sinabung.
The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, on Monday afternoon was an initial eruption, meaning there remains a possibility of a larger eruption occurring.
“This eruption is an initial eruption and does not rule out the possibility of a larger eruption occurring,” said Lana Saria, Head of the Geological Agency, in Jakarta on Monday.
She confirmed that developments in Mount Sinabung’s volcanic activity would continue to be monitored and the activity level evaluated periodically or at any time should significant changes occur, to serve as a basis for preparedness actions on the ground.
The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has temporarily closed nine national parks deemed to be at risk of forest and land fires (karhutla) as a mitigation measure and to maintain the effectiveness of fire response efforts.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni said in Palembang on Monday that the closure was implemented after several national park areas also experienced forest and land fires, requiring support from firefighting resources.
The temporary closure policy will be formally announced through a circular. The government is first conveying the information to the public as an initial notice.