Sitaro – Residents are prohibited from engaging in activities near the crater of Mount Karangetang in the Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. This was conveyed by the Geological Agency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. (ESDM).
“At Level III or Alert activity level, the public, visitors, tourists, and climbers are not allowed to engage in activities or approach the area within a 2.5-kilometer radius from the main crater of Mount Karangetang,” stated the Head of the Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, on Wednesday (4/12/2024).
In addition, the public is also advised to prepare masks to cover their noses and mouths to anticipate the danger of respiratory disturbances in case of ash rain.
He said that the activity level would be re-evaluated periodically or if there were significant changes.
“The activity level is considered to remain the same if the next evaluation has not been issued,” he said.
Intensive monitoring continues to evaluate the activity of Mount Karangetang by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.
He hopes that the people living along the riverbanks originating from the mountain peak will enhance their preparedness against the potential threats of rain-induced lahars and flash floods.
“The public is also expected to remain calm, not be swayed by false news about the eruption, and always follow the instructions from the Provincial BPBD of Sulut and the Sitaro Regency BPBD,” he said.
Muhammad Wafid hopes the local government will coordinate with the Karangetang PGA Post or the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation in Bandung.
It is known that the status of Mount Karangetang on Siau Island was raised from Alert Level II to Alert Level III since November 11, 2024, after an increase in volcanic seismic activity.
Leave a Reply