Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture appealed to the public to stay calm following the eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province on Saturday at 06:11 a.m. local time.
"The community should not panic, still, they need to increase their vigilance," the deputy for equitable regional development and disaster mitigation coordination at the coordinating ministry, Sudirman, said on Saturday.
He also asked the public to continue monitoring the information and adhering to the recommendations from the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) not to carry out any activity within a three-kilometer radius from the peak of the volcano.
He has also emphasized the importance of mitigation preparedness if the eruption activity increases and the status of the volcano is raised.
"All related institutions should continue to bolster their readiness to anticipate an increase in the status and impact of the eruption," the deputy stated.
If it is considered necessary or there have been recommendations from related technical agencies, the local government may stipulate the emergency status of the disaster, he said.
His party has also expected that mitigation attempts can be carried out more optimally to minimize the number of casualties, considering the location of Mount Marapi is quite far from community settlements.
Coordinator for Volcano Observation at PVMBG Oktory Prambada noted that the volcano spewed a 300-meter ash column on Saturday at 06:11 a.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).
He said there are still potential threats of the ejection of ash, sand, or other eruption materials which may fall within the three-kilometer radius from the volcano’s Verbeek Crater.
The eruption was preceded by the increase of deep volcanic earthquake which were recorded to occur 13 times on December 25, 2022, he said.
The eruption on Saturday at 06:11 a.m. was followed by another six eruptions at 9:44 a.m, 10:34 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 11:44 a.m., 12:30 p.m., as well as 2:51 p.m.
Currently, the status of Mount Marapi is on Level 2 alert.
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