Berita

BANDUNG. The Center for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), Geological Agency, MEMR, commencing from August 13th, 2011 at 4 a.m. increased the status of Mt. Papandayan, Garut District, West Java Province from ADVISORY (Level II) to WATCH (Level III). An intensive observation will be continuously done to evaluate the activity of Mt. Papandayan, and also the understanding of Mt. Papandayan activity will be intensively done through socialization about the danger of Mt. Papandayan explosion.

Based on seismic, deformation, geochemist, and visual supervision, then the status of Mt. Papandayan commencing from August 13th, 2011 at 4 a.m. increased from ADVISORY (Level II) to WATCH (Level III). If volcanic activity of Mt. Papandayan increased/decreased significantly, then its activity could be increased/decreased based on its activity and threatening level. That was the release accepted by editorial staff of esdm.go.id, Saturday (8/13).

Mt. Papandayan is an active volcano type A strato. Geographically, Mt. Papandayan is located in 7o19’42” South Lat. and 107o44 East Long., which peak height is 2665 m above sea level (asl). The volcano has some active craters; Emas Crater, Manuk Crater, Nangklak Crater and Baru Crater.

The recorded eruptions were in 1772, 1923-1925, 1942 and 2002. In 1772 eruption, the slide and pyroclastic happened which caused 2951 people death. In the last eruption 2002, three eruption episodes were started from freatic eruption on November 11th, which caused the Nangklak crater’s wall fell down and its avalanche material entered to the flow of Cibeureum Gede River and caused flash flood. In November 15th, an explosive eruption happened and created Baru crater in 2002. Then in November 20th, directed lateral blast happened in which volcanic material out of the Nangklak Crater along 1 km towards northeast. The third eruption episodes in 2002 were preceded by the increase of significant volcanic quake.

The activity status of Mt. Papandayan has been in Level II or Advisory since April 16th, 2008 and up to July 2011 some quake increases happened. The possible danger happened to Mt. Papandayan in Watch Status (Level III) is immediate freatic eruption which is followed by the poisonous gas or directed lateral blast. The other potency is the cliff avalanches surrounding Mt. Papandayan Crater which could trigger the lava. Besides by the material accumulation as the result of eruption in Mt. Papandayan complex, it is recorded that there are almost 3 million m3 in upstream of Ciberum River and Ciparugpug River. If heavy rain happened, the potential lava would flow following those rivers.

Next, related to the increased status, PVMBG recommend citizens surrounding Mt. Papandayan and visitors/tourism not to get close the crater located in the peak of Mt. Papandayan within the radius 2 km from the complex of Papandayan crater. Citizens surrounding Mt. Papandayan are hoped to be calm and not to be influenced by issue. That is why, they have to always obey the instruction of BPBD (Regional Agency for Disaster Mitigation), Garut District and BPBD of West Java Province. (AK)