Pacitan, East Java (ANTARA) - East Java's Pacitan District authority suggested that the recently discovered seamount in the district's sea be named "Jogo Jagat" to symbolize the hope that the seamount will benefit the people.

District Head Indrata Nur Bayuaji confirmed here, Monday, (February 20), that his side had conveyed the proposed name at an online meeting with related authorities.

He explained that the "Jogo Jagat" name comprised two Javanese words jogo, which means protecting, and jagat, which means the Earth or the world or, in extension, the universe.

"It is our collective prayer that the seamount will not harm us, but instead, it will protect Pacitan, protect Java, protect Indonesia and the world from calamity and disaster," Bayuaji stated.

Meanwhile, the district head urged residents to not harbor concerns over the discovery of the seamount, as so far, no research found that the landform is dangerous, including for human lives.

On the contrary, the seamount could be a habitat for sea creatures capable of sustaining their lives, he stated.

"Perhaps, fishes in the region will be protected and increased by the seamount. We must have good preconceptions. Just like us humans, we also live in mountain areas," Bayuaji stated.

The district head also spoke of having discussed about the discovery of the seamount with his colleagues in the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), albeit still in an informal manner.

Earlier, a survey team from the Marine and Coastal Area Mapping Center (PKLP) of the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) discovered a seamount some 200 kilometers southwest of Pacitan.

According to the statement on Monday (February 13), the mountain’s base is located on the seafloor, at a depth of some six thousand meters, while the seamount measures about 2,200 meters in height.

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Translator: Destyan Sujarwoko, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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