TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yogyakarta Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) reported that Mount Merapi is still periodically spewing hot clouds until Monday afternoon, March 13, 2023.

Located on the border area of Central Java and Yogyakarta, the volcano has spewed hot clouds 61 times from Saturday afternoon March 11 until 12:00 noon western Indonesian times (WIB) on Monday, March 13, 2023.

"For now, people [residing in the recommended safe radius] don't need to be evacuated," Sleman Regent Kustini Sri Purnomo said on Monday, March 13, 2023.

However, based on recommendations from a number of parties, Kustini stated that they still need to prepare for evacuation. "Especially if there is an escalation of danger which is marked by the further spreading of hot clouds beyond the recommended zone," Kustini added.

The Head of the Sleman Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Makwan, explained that the agency had prepared an evacuation team and evacuation fleet in cooperation with the Sleman Regency Government. “We are also preparing evacuation routes, evacuation signs, and preparing evacuation barracks," Makwan added.

A warning siren will be sounded if the eruption becomes critical and start to endanger residents in a current safe radius. These warning signs have been installed at 36 points scattered in Disaster Prone Areas (KRB) III which are close to residential areas and equipped with Early Warning System (EWS) officers.

Makwan also stated that the Sleman BPBD has prepared 32 evacuation barracks located in three sub-districts on the slopes of Merapi, namely Turi, Cangkringan, and Pakem.

The current potential hazard from the volcano is in the possible lava avalanches and hot clouds falling on Woro River located 3 kilometers away from the summit, Gendol River located 5 kilometers away from the summit, Boyong River located 5 kilometers away from the summit, as well as Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng Rivers located 7 kilometers away.

Meanwhile, the ejection of volcanic material during an explosive eruption is predicted to be able to reach a radius of 3 kilometers from the summit.

Sleman Regent Kustini added that the current activity of Mount Merapi, although it looks intense, is different from the violent eruption back in 2010.

"Mount Merapi is now experiencing an increase in volcanic activity but still in alert status. This means volcanic activity is high but still within the recommended zone radius," Kustini concluded.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)

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