PVMBG Examines Mount Agung's Status

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) is still examining the alert status of Mount Agung, following the eruption, Tuesday.

As seen from a video recorded by the the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the volcano spew the grey smokes and volcanic ashes from the crater.

Despite of the eruption, the alert status of Mount Agung remained unchanged at the second-highest warning level III.

"We are still observing the volcano, because changing its status depends to the data. We cannot predict the condition now," the PVMBG head of volcano mitigation and supervision in the eastern region, Devy Kamil Syahbana said in Denpasar, Wednesday.

Syahbana explained that to raise the alert status of Mount Agung to the highest warning level IV is not only determined by the volcanic ashes, but also other parameters, such as the tremors, and the deformations at the volcano.

The tremor activity, according to PVMBG, remained low with two times non-harmony shocks, five times low volcanic tremors, one local tectonic, and three times deep tectonic shocks.

Discharged from the crater, the low-pressured white smoke with a high intensity now is rising to 500-700 meter from the crater, following the wind to east.

The authority has announced that the volcano erupted, Tuesday at 5.05 om local time, and released the volcanic ash and grey smoke which rose to 700 m from the crater.

The smoke has moved from the volcano to the east and southeast.

According to the PVMBG's initial probe, the explosion was part of the "phreatic eruption", which could occur due to the high-pressured steam formed in the crater, after having a direct contact with the magma.

Not only followed by the tremors, the smokes, volcanic ashes, and other materials were also ejected from the crater during the phreatic eruption.

After the burst, some villages were affected by the low-intensity volcanic ash rain, the authority said.

"The (PVMBG) emergency response team has been deployed in the scene, and the task force also has found the low-intensity volcanic ash. Hence, we call on everyone to remain calm, and follow our instructions," Syahbana said. (WDY)