PGA urges residents not to engage in activities within a 4 km radius of Mount Dukono

Ternate (ANTARA) - The Mount Dukono Volcano Observation Post (PGA) in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, has urged residents not to engage in activities within a 4 km radius of the volcano’s crater, due to an increase in eruptive activity.

“Residents around Mount Dukono and visitors/tourists should not engage in activities or climb approaching the Malupang Warirang crater within a 4-kilometre radius,” said PGA Dukono officer Bambang Sugiono in a statement received in Ternate on Monday.

He explained that around 15:33 WIT, Mount Dukono was still erupting, spewing volcanic ash to a height of 1,200 metres above the summit.

“The ash column was observed to be grey in colour with thick intensity, leaning towards the west and northwest,” he said.

He stated that the Mount Dukono eruption was recorded on the seismogram with an amplitude of 19 mm and a duration of 34.97 seconds.

Currently, he said, the status of the 1,087-metre-high volcano above sea level is at Level II or Alert.

“Considering that eruptions with volcanic ash occur periodically and the spread of ash follows the wind direction and speed, the ash fallout area is not fixed,” he said.

Therefore, people around Mount Dukono are asked to provide masks to avoid the threat of volcanic ash to the respiratory system.