All urban village chiefs in West Ternate will be called to a meeting to discuss precautionary measures to be taken in the face of lava spewed from the volcano during the rainy season, Hayim Yusuf, head of the Ternate disaster mitigation office, stated here, Friday.
The authorities have distributed face masks to local inhabitants in areas affected by volcanic ash. Takemo, Loto, and Togafo are among the worst affected by the ash.
Mount Gamalama located on Ternate Island, North Maluku Province, erupted on Thursday at 11:52 a.m. local time.
The volcano spewed a column of ash at a height of up to 250 meters from the mountain`s top, Darno Lamane, head of the Mount Gamalama observation post, stated here, Thursday.
Wind drifted volcanic ash of the mountain toward northwest, and the ash fell on West Ternate Sub-district.
Despite the eruption, the volcano`s emergency status remains at second level. Some 1.5-kilometer radius from the crater is closed to the public, including climbers.
Lamane also appealed to people living along sides of the rivers whose upstream are close to the volcano area to remain vigilant of potential threats in the form of lava flows during the current rainy season.
Reporting by Abdul Fatah
Editing by Fardah
Reporter: Abdul Fatah
Editor: Bustanuddin
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