The ongoing eruptions of Mount Sinabung in Karo, North Sumatra, should have discouraged many local and foreign tourists who fear for their safety from visiting the province.

However, some people seemed to have lost their concern about safety when they learned that the eruptions had created a new tourist attraction: a 5-hectare lake that is believed to have been formed when materials spewed from the volcano blocked a river.

The fact that the lake, dubbed Lake Salagonder, is located in a danger zone has not deterred dozens of people who wished to enjoy its beauty and spend their vacations at this latest tourist site.

Located in Namanteran subdistrict to the southeast of Mt. Sinabung, the new lake is only about 2 kilometers from Lake Bigo, which was previously formed in Huta Tonggal subdistrict. Both lakes were formed by Mt. Sinabung’s ejected materials and are located inside the volcano’s danger zone.

The head of the West Region Volcano Mitigation Subdivision, Hendra Gunawan, said Lake Salagonder was formed within the last two weeks following a big eruption on April 10.

It was formed not because of cracked ground but because sedimentation from a huge pyroclastic flow in the stream of the Lau Boras River that formed a lake.

“Some 1 million cubic meters of lava was spewed from the crater of the volcano, clogging the river channel and forming a lake measuring some 50,000 square meters,” Hendra told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He said since the lake was formed, locals and tourists have been flocking to the site located only about 3.5 kilometers from the crater of the volcano.

Surprisingly, he added, they just went there to take pictures.

“They are risking their lives just for pictures. In fact, if the volcano erupts they could be killed because of the pyroclastic flow,” Hendra said, adding that since April 20 all the access route to the lake had been closed to the public.

A local, Puja Pelawi of Sukanalu, said that she went to the lake to take pictures and to see for herself if the information about it was true.

“I am not scared. I am just curious about the information I received,” said Puja, who had just finished her day at senior high school and went to the lake with seven of her friends.

Karo Tourism and Culture Agency head Mulia Barus said the regency administration had prohibited people from visiting the lake, but the policy has been largely ignored, as people kept going to it despite all the risks.

Mulia, however, admitted that the newly formed lake had the potential to be developed into an attractive tourist destination in the future. The agency, therefore, planned to manage and develop the area when the eruptions end.

Mulia said Karo was known for its cool weather and beautiful panorama, as well as its quality vegetable and fruit products.

Mulia said tourist visits to Karo fluctuated during the eruptions of Mt. Sinabung.

“When it first erupted, tourism was hit hard. Now tourist visits are increasing,” said Mulia, adding that the regency had been enjoying an increase of 20 to 30 percent in tourist visits to Karo during the first three months of this year.

Pelin Sembiring, a volunteer assigned to close the routes to the lake, said that people had sneaked to the body of water and even bathed in it despite the ban.

“It’s so frustrating. They keep going there and bathing in the lake, even though they have been warned about the danger of doing so,” he said.

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales