The latest eruption before Tuesday`s, happened on Sunday (Aug 28), Warno, an officer at the Mt Lokon and Mt Mahawu observation post at Kakaskasen village, Tomohon, said on Tuesday.
"We recorded four small eruptions today. But the materials spewed out by the volcano reached a height of only 150-200 meters," he said.
The four eruptions happened at 07.21, 13.39,,14.09 and 14.20 East Indonesian Time.
"Following the eruptions, thick whitish-grey smoke rose from the volcano`s crater. This means water and gases are still being burned in the crater," Warno said.
In the time span between 00.00 and 18.00 Eastern Indonesia Times WITA only one volcanic tremor was recorded while between 00.00 and 24.00 East Indonesia Time on Monday (Sept 5) there were one deep and two deep volcanic tremors as well as four distant tectonic quakes.
"The frequency of volcanic tremors has declined somewhat because only one happened. But it is not impossible that more volcanic tremors will take place because the mountain`s volcanic activity is still high," he said.
The tremors` amplitude had dropped from their level during the past few days when it was above 20 milimeters. On Tuesday the amplitudes ranged between 2 and 8 milimeters but they mostly were at 4 milimeters.
Between 06.00 and -12.00 East Indonesian Time the amplitudes varied between 4 and 8 milimeters but were mostly at 4 milimeters and between 12.00 and 18.00 East Indonesian Time they ranged between 0.5 and 10 milimeters.
"Although the tremors amplitudes have dropped, magma was still being pushed upward although not very forcefully," Warno said.
Up to 20.45 East Indonesian Time on Tuesday, Mt Lokon was still in a level III alert status although its geological activity had begun to drop.
Mt Lokon became active again with eruptions on Wednesday (Aug 17) and Sunday (Aug 28). The villages of Kinilow, Kinilow I and Kakaskasen I, in North Tomohon sub district were declared to be in direct danger and its residents were asked to be prepared to evacuate any time in case a major eruption like the one on July 14, 2011 occurred. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
