Observation officer of Eastern Area Volcanoes Martanto said here on Wednesday that Mount Gamalama at 06.28 a.m local time (GMT+9) spewed a plume of volcanic ash 500-600 meter high in the sky drifted eastbound by the wind to the direction of Ternate.
"Until 08.00 am, the status of Mount Gamalama remained in alert level II," Martanto said.
The observation post also recorded tremors of which amplitude ranged from 0.5-1.5mm during the volcanic ash burst.
The authority is monitoring the 1,700 meter high volcano through visual observation and records of data following its volcanic activity.
So far, the occurring eruptions observed have been classified as phreatic ones which include explosion of steam and rock fragments without the inclusion of lava.
The volcano observation officers will keep the communication open to the local authority and people on the recent status of the volcano.
Resident of Ternate are urged not to do any activity within the 1.5km radius from the peak, while the District Administration of Ternate has also distributed masks to residents affected by the volcanic ash in the region.
The history recorded Mount Gamalama, that comprises the entire Ternate Island, had erupted in December 2014, disrupting economic activities in Ternate and forced air authorities to close Babullah Airport for two weeks of the thick volcanic ash.
In July last Year, the volcano erupted again, spewing dark clouds of volcanic ash around 1,500 metes into the sky.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
