Although the (volcanoes with) Level II status generally have less potential to erupt than (volcanoes with) Level III, it does not mean that they (the Level II volcanoes) are harmless.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) noted that four volcanoes in Indonesia were at Level III, or "Alert" status, throughout September 2022.

Head of PVMBG Hendara Gunawan noted on Thursday that the volcanoes included Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung Province, Mount Merapi at the border of the provinces of Yogyakarta and Central Java, as well as Mount Semeru in East Java Province.

"Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes, more than 70 volcanoes of them are (very) active (type A), while the rest are less active -- or included as type B and type C (volcanoes)," he stated during a virtual press conference on geological disaster information.

Gunawan appealed to the community living and working near the four mountains to always be aware of the volcanic activities of the mountains.

In addition, he urged the people to always pay attention to the latest information and recommendation of the local governments or Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

The PVMBG head said that if any of the four volcanoes erupt, its volcanic materials might fall close to the nearest villages around the volcanoes’ peak.

Furthermore, based on the results of visual and instrumental observations, the agency noted that there were 17 volcanoes whose activity had started to increase, due to which the PVMBG gave them Level II or "Advisory" status.

The 17 mountains were Mount Awu, Mount Karangetang, Mount Lokon, and Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi Province; Mount Dukuno, Mount Gamalama, and Mount Ibu in North Maluku Province; as well as Mount Rinjani and Mount Sangeangapi in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province.

A rise in activity was also observed in Mount Bromo and Mount Raung in East Java Province; Mount Banda Api in Maluku Province; Mount Dempo in South Sumatra Province; Mount Ile Werung in NTT Province; Mount Kerinci in Jambi Province; Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province; as well as Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra Province.

"Although the (volcanoes with) Level II status generally have less potential to erupt than (volcanoes with) Level III, it does not mean that they (the Level II volcanoes) are harmless," Gunawan emphasized.

Furthermore, the PVMBG said that there were 47 volcanoes with Level I, or "Normal" status, as well as zero volcanoes, with Level IV, or "Warning" status. The latest information about the level of volcanoes in Indonesia can be accessed on magma.esdm.go.id.

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Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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