TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) stated the 5.0 magnitude tectonic earthquake in southern Bali today intervened the unstable activity of Mount Agung and caused two eruptions.

“The activity of Mount Agung is quite high, unstable, and remains to develop,” said PVMBG official Devy Kamil Syahbana Tuesday, July 3, at Mount Agung monitoring post, Rendang Village, Karangasem.

Devy considered the eruption would easier to occur since the full magma chamber was ready to extrude while on the same time tectonic tremor hit.

The 5.0 magnitude quake hit Bali today, July 3 at 09:19 local times. The epicenter was located at 9.68 south latitude and 115.20 east longitude or 112 kilometers southwest Denpasar in 10 kilometers in depth.

Minutes after the quake, two eruptions occurred at 09:28 and 09:46 local times spewing volcanic ash at some 2,000 kilometer-high and 500 kilometer-high from the mountain peak respectively.

PVMBG noted that volcanic ash of 3.142 meters above the sea level headed to the west. During past 12 hours, Mount Agung erupted three times and 13 times spewed phreatic column. Two volcanic quakes also hit the area as well as three quakes with low frequency.

Mount Agung currently stays on alert level III and that the safe zone set at 4 kilometers away from the mountain crater. Hence PVMBG urged the public to not conduct activities including mountain hiking.

ANTARA