TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Bandung Geophysics Station at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Teguh Rahayu, confirmed that news circulating about the link between the Cimandiri Fault earthquake in Cianjur and the eruption of Mount Gede in West Java was a hoax.

“BMKG has never conveyed or shared this information,” said Rahayu on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

The agency also clarified circulating news that a number of regions were at a high alert level following the Cianjur earthquake for the next week.

The false news about Mount Gede’s eruption came from a voice note saying there was a fire burning on the volcano that led to eruption and earthquake in Kampung Singa Barong and Kampung Sarongge areas, Cianjur Regency.

“That news is just a hoax, issues that cannot be accounted for and that deceives the public,” said Rahayu.

She underlined that there is no technology that can exactly predict when, where, and how strong an earthquake will occur to date. According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), “the status of Mount Gede is still in Level I or Normal,” she added.

BMKG urged the public to remain calm, not be influenced by baseless issues, and seek official information only from the authorities such as BKMG, BASARNAS, BNPB, TAGANA, TNI/Polri, and local government officials.

ANWAR SISWADI

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News