Amlapura (Antara Bali) - The Center for Volcanology and Geological
Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has called on residents and tourists to halt
any activities within a 7.5-kilometer radius of the Mount Agung peak in
Karangasem District of Bali.
"Taking a cue from the mountain`s eruption in 1963, huge pieces of
rocks burst out from the volcano within the radius," Head of the PVMBG
of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Gede Suantika stated here,
Tuesday.
Hence, public activities should be stopped at the Pura Besakih or
Besakih Temple, which is located within the radius, he noted.
The recommendation to stop public activities has covered the north, south, northwest, and southeast areas.
"The recommendation is based on the observation conducted by the Mt
Agung monitoring post in Rendang Village that had recorded more than 400
volcanic tremors in the past 24 hours," he remarked.
On Monday at 9 p.m. local time, the PVMBG had increased the mountain`s alert status to level III.
The alert status for the 3,142-meter-high mountain was set based on
visual and instrumental data analysis, considering its potential
threats, Suantika emphasized.
"Since the last few days, the PVMBG has recorded an increase in
volcanic tremors. This has indicated that its volcanic activities are
unstable, and the possibility of an eruption has increased," he
explained.
As of 8 p.m. local time on Monday, the agency had recorded two
non-harmonic tremors, 18 shallow volcanic tremors, and 355 deep volcanic
tremors.
Records since 1800 reveal that Mount Agung had experienced four mega eruptions respectively in 1908, 1823, 1843, and 1963. (WDY)
PVMBG Urges People To Halt Activities Near Mount Agung
Pewarta : Reported by Nyoman Budiana and Edy M Yakub 19 September 2017 16:52 WIB