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Mount Ibu spews 2.5-km-high volcanic ash column
This year, Mount Ibu has been recorded erupting 47 times.
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Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, releases volcanic ash as high as 2.5 kilometers into the air as it erupts on March 3, 2024. (Antara/PVMBG)
T
he Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has reported that Mount Ibu in West Halmahera regency, North Maluku, erupted on Monday at 6:19 p.m. local time.
The eruption sent volcanic ash as high as 2.5 kilometers above the volcano’s crater.
"The ash column was observed to be gray with a thick intensity toward the west," said Mount Ibu observation post officer Axl Roeroe, as quoted by Antara.
The eruption had a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters and a duration of approximately three minutes and seven seconds.
The volcano erupted again at 7:47 a.m., with volcanic ash reaching 1.5 km above the crater.
According to Axl, the sound of the eruptions was heard at least as far as the observation post. He urged the public to beware of lava flows in rivers near the volcano and to always coordinate with the local volcano observation post.
As the volcano was on Level II (advisory) status, the PVMBG advised people to avoid getting within 2 km of its crater, with an increased buffer of 3.5 km on the mountain’s northern slopes.
The observation post officer advised people doing activities outside in the area to use face masks and eye protection as a precaution against ash rain.
Additionally, Axl hoped that the West Halmahera regency administration would coordinate with the PVMBG or the Mount Ibu observation post to get the latest information about the volcano’s activity.
This year, Mount Ibu has been recorded erupting 47 times.
