Mount Ibu Erupts, Dispersing Ash
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Mount Ibu, a stratovolcano situated in the northwest of Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, erupted for a duration of 68 seconds on Monday, dispersing dense volcanic ashes westward. The eruption, detected by the Mount Ibu Monitoring Post, has prompted authorities to issue warnings and advisories to residents in the vicinity.
According to Axl Roeroe, an officer from the Mount Ibu Monitoring Post, the eruption occurred at 11:29 a.m. Eastern Indonesian Time, with a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters recorded on the post’s seismogram. The ash columns reached an estimated height of 800 meters above the mountain’s peak.
The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) promptly classified Mount Ibu’s volcanic status as Level II. As a precautionary measure, residents living within a radius of two kilometers from the eruption center are advised against outdoor activities. Additionally, locals are urged to stay vigilant for potential cold lava flows in rivers connected to Mount Ibu and maintain coordination with the volcano monitoring post.
Mount Ibu exhibited heightened volcanic activity on February 4, registering 19 eruption tremors, one avalanche tremor, 220 gust tremors, 250 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 14 deep volcanic earthquakes, two harmonic tremors, and seven distant tectonic earthquakes. In 2023, Mount Ibu ranked as the second-most active erupting volcano in Indonesia, with a total of 21,100 eruptions.
Standing at an altitude of 1,325 meters above sea level, Mount Ibu’s stratovolcano structure features a volcanic crater at its peak. The inner part of the crater spans one kilometer in width, with a depth of approximately 400 meters, while the outer crater is 1.2 kilometers wide.
As the authorities closely monitor the situation, residents and communities around Mount Ibu remain under vigilant watch, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and coordination to ensure the safety of those living in the vicinity of the erupting volcano.
