Mount Merapi Spews Hot Clouds, Local Residents Urged to Be Alert

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Mount Merapi, located in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Central Java, Indonesia, was observed to have spewed hot clouds from 00:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) to 12:00 WIB, Sunday, August 25, 2924. People and journalists who are in disaster-prone locations are urged to always be vigilant.

From data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), Mount Merapi from 00:00 WIB to 06:00 WIB spewed two hot clouds towards Kali Bebeng (southwest) with a maximum sliding distance of 1,000 meters. There were also 23 lava flows towards Kali Bebeng with a maximum sliding distance of 1,600 meters.

In the period from 06:00 to 12:00 WIB, Mount Merapii spewed one hot cloud towards the southwest (Kali Bebeng) with a maximum sliding distance of 1,000 meters. 21 lava flows were observed in the same direction with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters. One volcanic hot cloud earthquake with an amplitude of 41 mm and an earthquake duration of 108.44 seconds.

In addition, there were 53 earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-44 mm and an earthquake duration of 21.52-157.48 seconds. Two hybrid/multi-phase earthquakes with an amplitude of 3 mm, S-P 0.5-0.7 seconds and an earthquake duration of 7.12-8.28 seconds.

The weather was observed to be sunny, calm winds to the west. Air temperature around 14.5-16.7°C. Humidity 70-89.4 percent. Air pressure 874.5-918.8 mmHg.

"Seismic observations of two hot cloud earthquakes with an amplitude of 34-36 mm and an earthquake duration of 99.88-111.6 seconds, 30 cluster earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-21 mm and an earthquake duration of 47.6-177.16 seconds," wrote Mount Merapi observer from PVMBG, Tri Mujiyanta, Sunday, August 25, 2024.

The current potential hazard is reported in the form of lava flows and hot clouds in the south-southwest sector covering the Boyong River as far as a maximum of 5 kilometers, the Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng Rivers as far as a maximum of 7 kilometers.

In the southeast sector covering the Woro River as far as a maximum of 3 kilometers and the Gendol River 5 kilometers. Meanwhile, the ejection of volcanic material if an explosive eruption occurs can reach a radius of 3 kilometers from the peak.

"Monitoring data shows that the supply of magma is still ongoing which can trigger hot clouds in the potential hazard area," said Tri.

The public is advised not to carry out any activities in areas of potential danger and to always be aware of the dangers of lava and hot clouds, especially when it rains around Mount Merapi. The public must also anticipate disruptions due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi.

MUH. SYAIFULLAH

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