TEMPO.CO, Bandung - A lava flood occurred on Mt. Karangetang on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The volcano, located in Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, has been at Level II alert since November last year.

Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geology Department of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), announced that a lava flow occurred in the Batuawang River, Bebali Village, East Siau Regency, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. local time. "The lava blocked the main road in Ondong-Ulu Siau (East Siau and West Siau districts) for about 150 meters with a thickness of five centimeters to three meters," Wafid said in his statement on Friday, June 14, 2024.

He also said that lava flooding occurred through the Nanitu River and the Timbelang River, which are located in the western part of Mount Karangetang. Wafid said there was no damage to buildings or casualties as a result of the incident. At the same time, it was reported that it was raining in the area. "At 15:30 WITA (Central Indonesia Time), light to heavy rain fell around the Karangetang volcano post," he said.

The Geology Agency has maintained the activity status of Mount Karangetang at Level II alert. There has also been no change in the recommended danger zone, which is a 1.5-kilometer radius from the main and north craters and a 2.5-kilometer sector in the southwest and south directions.

There is a potential danger from material from the eruption still accumulating in the valleys of the lava slide/fall path. "This has the potential to cause lava material to fall downstream, so people living near the riverbanks need to be aware of lava during heavy rains at the peak or during the rainy season," Wafid said.

Ahmad Fikri (Contributor)

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