- Antara/ Jemmy
VIVAnews – Mount Lokon in Tomohon City, North Sulawesi, has yet to see a break in its volcanic activity. Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) announced that volcanic earthquakes still occurred in Mount Lokon this morning.
“At between 12 and 6 AM local time, a tectonic earthquake hit with 30mm amplitude for 60 seconds. Seven Shallow Volcanic (VB) quakes of 3-7mm amplitude hit for 3-5 seconds with continuing tremors of 0.5-25mm,” PVMBG reported on Wednesday.
Even though the volcano had erupted and shook the area of within the radius of 5 kilometers off Tompaluan Crater, Mount Lokon is still on Standby status, at least until this morning.
Based on the visual observation and seismicity as well as the potential eruption of Mount Lokon until April 25 at 6 AM, the volcanic activities are still classified Standby (Level III).
PVMBG stated that there will be dangers following Lokon’s quakes, such as magmatic eruptions accompanied by bursts of hot materials and thick ash rain with or without hot clouds. Eruptions can also occur out of a sudden.
“If hot clouds appear around Mount Lokon, residents are warned to watch out for hot clouds along Pasapehan River.”
Residents are recommended to perform any kinds of activities within the radius of 2.5 km off Tompaluan Crater, Mount Lokon’s magma chamber.
As a precautionary action, residents of Kinilow I Village, close to Mount Lokon, are equipped with communication devices and manual early warning devices, “such as speakers, bells, kentongan, etc.”
Residents were also called for to monitor lava on rivers that flow from Mount Lokon’s peak. "Residents are asked to remain calm and follow the instructions from the Local Government as well as avoid trusting trust rumors.”
Mount Lokon has a height of 1,580 meters. It has witnessed high activities as of 18 June 2011.
