T

he Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has announced that all evacuees, who recently fled their homes following two eruptions of Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, could return to their homes and resume their everyday activities, as the volcano'€™s status was declared safe.

The PVMBG said the current status of Mount Sinabung had been lowered from siaga (alert) to waspada (caution).

PVMBG head M. Hendrasto said that based on seismic observation, volcanic activity in Mt. Sinabung had dropped in terms of deformation and sulfur gas emissions. He added that, therefore, the volcano'€™s alert level had been lowered one notch from alert to caution.

'€œToday, we are announcing that all those residents who are still taking refuge can return home. There is no need to be afraid because the situation is already safe,'€ Hendrasto told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Hendrasto said that despite the current situation, his agency recommended that residents remain aware about the possibility of phreatic eruptions (explosions of steam, water, ash or rock) and lava flows without any advance sign of increased activity. With this in mind, Hendrasto added, the PVMBG had banned recreational activities, such as trekking, within a 2-kilometer radius of the crater.

'€œWe fear that any remaining volcanic material at the volcano'€™s summit could suddenly fall during heavy rain showers or in the event of a lava flow,'€ he said.

Hendrasto also urged locals to comply with the warnings from the Karo regency administration, which regularly provides updates on the activity of Mt. Sinabung based on PVMBG information.

Karo administration spokesman Jhonson Tarigan said that along with the issuance of the recommendation from the PVMBG, his office was helping residents who had taken shelter at several command posts to return to their own homes.

'€œWe have asked as many as 1,098 evacuees based at four command posts to return to their homes today [Monday]. They have been told they can carry out their normal activities,'€ Jhonson said, adding that all the evacuees had left the shelters.

'€œWe escorted everyone with trucks provided by the police, military and relevant agencies,'€ he said.