Wind Storm Hits Mount Ijen Summit; Public Warned of Dangerous Gas, Landslides
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27 September 2023 14:49 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A wind storm struck the summit area of Mount Ijen on Wednesday morning, September 27, 2023. Sigit Haribowo, the head of the post of the Ijen Crater Natural Tourism Park, reported the incident via a short video on his WhatsApp status.
The 20-second video showed a number of people taking shelter under a tarpaulin roof that was flapping in the fast, strong wind. Some of the straps came loose. “Wind storm at the top of the Ijen crater,” Sigit said in the video caption.
Sigit confirmed to Tempo this afternoon that windstorms are common during the dry season between August and October. He claimed that the speed of the howling wind was not yet known. However, the incident did not disrupt the activities of the local community.
Standing 2,386 meters above sea level, Mount Ijen is located in Banyuwangi, Bondowoso, East Java. According to the observation post, the weather in the area is clear with light to moderate intensity winds blowing to the east. The air temperature is around 18-30°C with a humidity level of 42-80 percent.
Mount Ijen is shrouded in fog
Visually, thin white smoke was observed at a height of about 50-300 meters from the volcano summit. A number of tremors were also recorded.
Ahmad Subhan Nur Fajidi, the officer of the volcano's observation post, said that residents, visitors, tourists, or miners are restricted from approaching the crater of Mount Ijen’s summit. People are also not allowed to stay within 500 meters of the crater.
He also called on the public to be aware of the possible release of dangerous gases from the crater lake and the possibility of landslides on the crater walls.
DAVID PRIYASIDARTA (CONTRIBUTOR)
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