TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) on Sunday morning explained that the eruption of Bali volcano, Mount Agung, was caused by overpressure from the accumulation of volcanic gases. The eruption happened at 04:09 Central Indonesia Time (WITA) and lasted for 3 minutes and 8 seconds.

“The fire from the crater’s peak was observed, however, the ash clouds were unable to be visually confirmed since it was covered by heavy fog,” said PVMBG Head Kasbani on Sunday, December 30.

The agency’s thorough data analysis shows that there is a small chance of a larger Mount Agung eruption prior to its eruption on July 27, 2018. PVMBG concluded that the eruption will comprise of lava materials and pyroclastic debris up to small-scale volcanic ash rains.

“The potential of it erupting still exists but with a smaller scale. So far, the possibility of a massive eruption from the mountain could not be seen,” said Kasbani.

In a press release yesterday, PVMBG said that NASA’s MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite imagery did not show Bali’s Mount Agung producing thermal anomalies at its crater’s surface. This means that there are no new lava materials emerging from beneath.

Bali volcano Mount Agung is currently under Alert Level III (Siaga) with a 4-kilometer no-go perimeter measured from its crater.

ANWAR SISWADI