Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources confirmed a smoke plume seen on Mount Raung’s upper southern slope was caused by a land fire, not volcanic activity or an eruption.
Geological Agency Acting Chief Lana Saria said in Jakarta on Thursday that the plume was first observed at 6:30 a.m. local time Wednesday and expanded and shifted by 1:06 p.m.
“Based on the smoke’s distribution, location, and color, the plume was likely caused by a land fire,” Lana said in Jakarta.
Visual monitoring over the past two weeks showed only fluctuating gas and steam emissions reaching up to 500 meters above the summit, with no eruptive activity producing rock material.
Seismic recordings were dominated by shallow eruption-like earthquakes caused by gas pressure release, with no increase in earthquake frequency or types indicating magma migration toward the surface.
The Geological Agency has kept Mount Raung at Level II, or Alert, since Dec. 19, 2023. The volcano spans Banyuwangi, Jember, and Bondowoso Districts in East Java Province.
Lana urged residents and tourists to avoid activities within three kilometers of the crater’s eruption center to reduce the risk from potentially high concentrations of volcanic gases.
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Translator: M.Riezko BEP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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