Hazardous Zone of Mt. Agung Decreased from 8-10 km to 6 km

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 002.Pers/04/SJI/2018

Date: January 4th, 2018

Hazardous Zone of Mt. Agung Decreased from 8-10 km to 6 km

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), Geological Agency Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Ministry of EMR) set the status of Mt. Agung, Karang Asem, Bali remain "WARNING". However, PVMBG decreased the hazardous zone for activities from 8 km-10 km to be 6 km. Mt. Agung is currently under eruption phase by having relatively high and fluctuating volcanic activities.

According to the result of visual as well as instrumental (seismic, deformation, and geochemist) data analysis, the recent status of Mt. Agung is under the eruption phase and the volcanic activities are relatively high and fluctuating. The eruption materials are in form of lava filling the crater, ash blowing/eruption as well as rock throw surrounding the crater.

The lava volume in the crater is 20 million meter cubic or approximately 1/3 of the crater volume (60 million meter cubic). The current dome movement is low, so it is not possible to fill in the crater volume within a short period of time.

The earthquake status of Mt. Agung up to Wednesday (1/3) at 6.p.m. (local time) showed that the number of earthquake with both high and low frequency are still happening. It indicates that the magma pressure and flow are still happening deep down the depth up to the surface. However, the recent earthquake energy has not showed a significant increased trend.

Deformation data within the last recent days also showed a stagnant trend indicating that there is no significant increase on pressure source. The latest geochemist data showed that there is still SO2 magmatic gas by having flux approximately for 100-300 ton/day.

The current potential hazard are predicted in form of incandescent rock throw, sand, pebble, and heavy ash rain as well as lava rain. These hazardous incandescent rock throw, sand, pebble, and heavy ash rain were predicted to attack the area within the radius of 6 km from the crater.

Meanwhile, the hazardous lava rain will flow following the river up-streaming from Mt. Agung, depending on the water debit and also the eruption material volume.

By using the recent eruption scale (intermittent), the pyroclastic hazardous potential was relatively low due to the slowdown of lava movement in fulfilling the crater volume. Furthermore, breaking down the lava dome to be pyroclastic need an adequate high pressure, meanwhile the recent pressure movement has not showed a significant increase pattern.

Recommendations:

1. The previous WARNING status having the hazardous zone of 8 km from the crater and sectoral expansion for 10 km is decreased to 6 km from the mountain peak. The WARNING status remains, remembering that Mt. Agung is currently under the eruption phase and affecting the settlements.
2. Considering that the condition of Mt. Agung is really dynamic and in WARNING status, it is recommended to all parties and elements to be well aware and ready to anticipate any changing condition whatsoever. (AK)

The Head of Communications, Public Information

Services, and Cooperation Bureau

Agung Pribadi

For further information please call:

The Head of Communications, Public Information

Services, and Cooperation Bureau

Agung Pribadi (085795502038)

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