String of Simultaneous Volcano Eruptions Across Indonesia 'Coincidental', Says Geological Agency

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, said that currently, seven volcanoes in Indonesia experienced a series of eruptions. These volcanoes are Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Mount Merapi and Semeru in Java, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Mount Ibu in Maluku, and Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki and Mount Ili Lewotolok in NTT.

"These mountains have been erupting simultaneously since January 2024 with eruptions ranging from one week to a matter of months," he said in an online press conference on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Several volcanoes have had their volcanic activity level raised to the highest at Level IV which prompted an evacuation of surrounding residents, including Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, Mount Ruang, and Mount Ibu.

Wafid clarified that despite being active almost simultaneously, there is no relation between these series of eruptions. "The eruption of each mountain occurred due to a series of volcanic and local tectonic earthquakes as a result of the magma fluid movement 15 kilometers below the surface," he said.

According to him, each volcano has its own characteristics. The eruption events follow their respective characteristics, starting from tectonic seismicity, the magma type, and the shape of the magma chamber. 

"And they are not interconnected with each other, especially from several locations spread across Indonesia," he said.

Wafid corrected the term “Ring of Fire” which is often misunderstood as interconnection between all volcanoes. “Ring of Fire connects the location of active and inactive volcanoes based on the history of their formation," he said.

He gave the example of volcanoes in the western of Sumatra to the South of Jaca, in which he said the magma has “different chemicals which influence the activity and characteristics.”  

Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) Hendra Gunawan added that the volcanoes in Indonesia’s west and east are different in age. "The mountains are younger in the east, where the tectonic process based on the subduction is newer compared to Sumatra and Java, which clearly influences the (volcano’s)character," he said.

According to him, the current string of eruptions occurred due to local tectonic earthquakes, such as occurred in Mount Ibu, Mount Ili Lewotolok, and Mout Lewotobi. However, Hendra said that local tectonic earthquakes did not directly affect the volcano.

Wafid said that the Geological Agency is currently monitoring each active volcano to anticipate potential disasters. “We concentrate on each of the disasters,” he said. He also stressed that the nearly simultaneous eruptions in several volcanoes are purely coincidental. 

AHMAD FIKRI

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