Mount Sinabung Remains on Alert Status as Residents Defy Red Zone Restrictions
Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, remains at Alert status (Level III). Nevertheless, residents continue to risk entering the red zone, which has been designated as a dangerous area.
The Head of the North Sumatra Disaster Management Agency (BPKS), Tuahta Ramajaya Saragih, admitted that based on reports received, residents are still being found returning to their homes during the day to check on their dwellings and livestock. This is despite the fact that these residences fall within the red zone.
“Indeed, in recent days, we have received reports that several members of the community have returned,” he stated on Friday (4/9).
According to him, the returning residents generally originate from areas within Sinabung’s eruption red zone. This situation is a cause for concern as the volcano’s volcanic activity still has the potential to change at any time.
“According to the latest data, approximately 201 families or 650 individuals from Kuta Tengah Village are currently displaced in the Suka Tepu Village and Koperasi Desa Kelurahan/PUD areas,” he explained.
Tuahta emphasised that the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and Polri (National Police) have provided security guarantees in the villages abandoned by evacuees. This security presence aims to provide a sense of safety while anticipating residents returning to the affected areas.
“We cannot use heavy-handed force, but BPBD personnel, along with the TNI and Polri, continue to provide assistance and maintain readiness for mobilisation should a sudden follow-up eruption occur,” he added.
North Sumatra’s BPBD is urging the public, particularly those in high-risk areas, to prioritise safety and adhere to the recommendations issued by the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
“We urge the community to continue prioritising the safety of lives and to comply with the recommendations of the PVMBG,” he stated.
Furthermore, the public should not rely solely on visual observations of the volcano to determine the level of danger. The determination of status and the duration of management procedures refer entirely to the official recommendations of the PVMBG.
“Even though, to the naked eye, the eruption appears to have subsided with thin smoke, the official status follows the technical assessments of the PVMBG entirely,” said Tuahta.
Since the eruption occurred, North Sumatra’s BPBD has distributed 630 masks in the initial stage and has set up five evacuation tents out of the seven that were prepared.
“Additionally, BPBD North Sumatra has mobilised two evacuation trucks, one clean water tanker, and one mobile toilet unit to support the needs of residents at the evacuation sites,” he explained.
Mount Sinabung erupted with an ash column reaching 3,500 metres above the peak on Monday (31/8/2026) at 10:17 WIB. This eruption is the first since the volcano last erupted in 2022.