JAKARTA: The Karo regency administration temporarily closed Lau Kawar Lake and a nearby camping ground in Kuta Gugung village, Naman Teran district, following increased volcanic activity at Mount Sinabung in the past few days and an increase in alert level.
The closure started from Aug. 19 for an indefinite time based on a recommendation from the Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center’s Mount Sinabung monitoring command post, Karo Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Agency head Juni Antomi Kemit said.
The closure was also based on a public announcement from the Karo regent dated Aug. 14, calling on residents, tourists and climbers not to conduct any activities around Mount Sinabung. “The temporary closure of Lau Kawar Lake is an anticipatory measure for the safety of residents and tourists as Mount Sinabung experiences increased activity,” Juni said on Aug. 26.
Mount Sinabung monitoring post head Armen Putra confirmed the alert level has been increased from Level I Normal to Level II Waspada (advisory), in the four-level alert system. He said the government recommended residents and tourists avoid conducting activities at a radius of three kilometres from Mount Sinabung’s summit and a radius of 4.5 km for the South-East sector.
“Those who are living on riverbanks with upstream sources on Mount Sinabung must remain vigilant on mud flow danger. The commendation was issued on Aug. 13,” he said on Thursday (Aug 27).
“Mount Sinabung’s activities are still increasing. The tremors are fluctuating; thick smoke is seen billowing at 100 to 800 metres above Mount Sinabung’s summit.”
As of early morning on Thursday, there were five volcanic earthquakes inside Mount Sinabung, and there were tectonic quakes, Armen added. There was only one volcanic quake and seven tectonic quakes on Wednesday.
“The more quakes happen, the more potential Mount Sinabung has to erupt,” he said. After being dormant for about 400 years, the 2,460m Mount Sinabung erupted for the first time on Aug 29, 2010.
The activity then decreased in September 2010. The volcano erupted again on Sept. 15, 2013, before decreasing again on Sept. 29, 2013, and the status was lower to level II.
A major eruption happened in November 2013 with the alertness status increased to the highest level IV Awas (warning). The eruption killed dozens of people from volcanic pyroclastic flow while thousands of residents from 21 villages and two hamlets evacuated.
The volcano continuously erupted for the next six years before the status was lowered to level III Siaga (watch) on May 20, 2019, after visual and instrumental data analysis showed the threat was decreasing.
Sinabung erupted again on July 28, 2021, spewing volcanic ashes as high as 4,500 m and volcanic pyroclastic flow as far as 1,000 m to the east-southeast direction.
At least five districts were affected by the eruption with thick volcanic ash covering the surface. The 2021 eruption was the most recent eruption after being active for 11 years. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
