M

ount Lokon in Tomohon city, North Sulawesi, erupted on Tuesday morning, spewing ash 2,500 meters high.

There were 12 eruptions from 6:12 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. local time (5:12 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Jakarta time).

'€œA series of eruptions took place with different heights. The first eruption was 1,000 meters high while the second was 2,500 meters high,'€ said Farid Ruskanda Bina, Lokon and Mahawu volcano monitoring post head.

The monitoring post is under the authority of the Bandung-based Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG).

The center will not increase the alert status to the highest level from the current third level of the four-level warning system because the eruption pattern was the same as the previous ones.

'€œHowever, we are continuing to conduct periodical evaluations and are reporting on the volcanic activities,'€ said Farid.

'€œWe will file reports to Bandung and the city administration if there is a significant increase in activities.'€

He also expected residents to remain alert and refrain from carrying out activities within a 2.5-kilometer radius of the crater.

'€œIn addition to volcanic ash, Mt. Lokon also often spews material that could reach the danger zone. Residents must pay attention to this,'€ he added.

On Monday, Mt. Lokon erupted at 6:34 a.m. local time and spewed ash as high as 1,500 meters. These eruptions are part of a chain of eruptions that have been taking place since July 2011.

Kinilow, Kinilow I and Kakaskasen I subdistricts in North Tomohon district are located inside the
danger area.

The authorities have put up billboards stating the disaster-prone status of the subdistricts as well as directions to evacuation shelters in case of eruption.

Activities in the subdistricts were normal on Tuesday.