TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mount Dukono in the north of Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, erupted volcanic ash of approximately 1,000 meters high today, Nov. 9, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) reported.

The agency’s head Hendra Gunawan said the volcano spewed a thick column of white to gray ash towards the east at 6:42 a.m. East Indonesian Time (WIT).

“The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 34 millimeters for approximately 42 seconds,” Gunawan said as quoted from Antara, Thursday, November 8, 2023.

Gunawan stressed that the threat of the eruption to residential areas reaches 10-15 kilometers from the activity point of the Malupang Warirang crater.

the PVMBG called on the public and tourists to refrain from hiking on the mountain as the potential for an eruption is still high.

Gunawan also advised residents living at the foot of the mountain to tightly seal drinking water sources or wells to prevent contamination from falling volcanic ash, which contains high levels of silica fume that can cause respiratory system problems.

Mount Dukono is now at the alert status of level II or Waspada/Caution. The PVMBG banned public activities within a radius of two kilometers of the Malupang Warirang Crater.

“People around Mount Dukono should always have masks or nose and mouth coverings to avoid falling volcanic ash when needed,” Gunawan said.

ANTARA

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