TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The volume of two lava domes of Mount Merapi continues to grow. “Over the past week, the volume of the lava domes in the middle of the crater has reached 3,000,007 cubic meters,” said the Head of the Yogyakarta Research and Technological Development for Geological Disaster Agency (BPPTKG), Hanik Humaida, on Friday, December 10.

A week earlier, the agency recorded that the volume was 2,948,000 cubic meters. That means there was additional volume of around 52,000 cubic meters within a week. The southwest part of the lava dome is also still growing to 1,629,000 cubic meters from the previous week's 1,615,000 cubic meters.

Hanik reminded policymakers around the volcano, including the governments of Sleman regency, Magelang regency, Boyolali, and Klaten regency, to continue mitigation efforts in dealing with the threat of mount eruption.

“We particularly recommend the mining activities in river channels originating to Merapi and in disaster-prone areas be stopped,” Hanik asserted.

The volcanic status of Mount Merapi has been at alert Level 3 (Siaga) since November 5, 2020. During the past week on December 3-9, Merapi emitted searing clouds four times and spewed lava 190 times as far as 2,200 meters in the west direction or heading to Bebeng River.

Read: Residents Living Near Mount Merapi Urged to Remain Alert of Volcanic Activity

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)