TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urges the public to not carry out any activity within the danger zone of Mount Ibu's peak following the eruption on Saturday, January 12.

“We suggest the residents and hikers not conducting any activities within a 2-kilometer radius,” said BNPB's head of public relation and data center Sutopo in a written statement received by Tempo on Saturday, January 12.

Mount Ibu in Western Halmahera, North Maluku erupted on 17:12 local time today. Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) of Mount Ibu said that the height of the eruption was about 800 meters from the crater peak.

The volcanic ash of the eruption is leaning more to the south. But Mount Ibu is still in alert level II.

Sutopo stated there is an expansion of dangerous zone sector at the distance of 3.5 kilometer towards the crater opening in the north section of the active crater of Mount Ibu. However, he said that there is no need for evacuation since the dangerous zone is still far.

He explained that Mount Ibu experiences eruption for almost every day within the past three months. “It’s an active volcano that could erupt at any time. Most importantly is that the residents are out of the danger zone.”

According to Sutopo, PVMBG keeps monitoring the volcano activity. The public has been informed to follow the recommendation of PVMBG as the authorized institution in monitoring and issuing the early warning related to volcanic activity in Indonesia.

Syafiul Hadi