TEMPO.CO, Manado - Mount Lokon in Tomohon, North Sulawesi on Saturday has erupted again, sending a column of 500 meters of ash into the air.
The initial eruption began at around 3a.m. Central Indonesian Time, while the biggest eruption happened at around 9.10a.m. with the height of 500 meters.
"To date, the volcanic activities in the mountain are still happening. We have put it on alert status but the condition is still relatively safe and we have nothing to worry about," said Surono, an official of Manado Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG).
Following the eruption, the volcanic ashes have also affected the provincial capital of Manado, which is located 25 kilometers from Tomohon.
Juffry Janis, a Manado resident, said the volcanic ash from Mount Lokon eruption was very thick. He had to buy masks to prevent his children from inhaling the volcanic ashes.
"The Health Agency has not taken any measures to distribute free masks. So we took the liberty of buying some to prevent our children from being affected [by the ashes]," said Janis.
The volcanic ashes also affected residents in the nearby Minahasa Regency.
Hariadi, a resident in Langowan, Minahasa Regency, said he had to cleanse the clothes that he put outside to dry after the volcanic ash hit the area.
"I had no idea if Mount Lokon erupted again. Then I found the clothes being dried outside had volcanic ashes all over," Hariadi said.
ISA ANSHAR JUSUF
