Indonesia’s Mount Dukono Erupts, Spews Ash Up To 4,000 Metres

JAKARTA, April 3 (Bernama) -- Mount Dukono, located in eastern Indonesia’s remote Halmahera Island, erupted again on Friday afternoon, sending an ash column as high as 4,000 metres above its summit.

Dukono Volcano Observation Post (PGA) officer, Bambang Sugiono, said the eruption began at approximately 5.28pm local time, following an earlier episode in the morning.

“The ash column was observed to be grey with thick intensity and drifting toward the northwest, following the wind direction and speed around the mountain,” he said, according to ANTARA News Agency, on Friday.

Bambang said the eruption was recorded on a seismograph with an amplitude of 34 millimetres and a duration of 95.41 seconds, indicating that volcanic activity at the mountain remains significant and could occur repeatedly.

Earlier in the day, an eruption at around 11.06 am produced an ash column reaching 1,500 metres above the summit, with the ash also observed to be drifting toward the northwest.

This earlier eruption had a seismograph amplitude of 25 millimetres and lasted for 82.26 seconds.

Bambang said Mount Dukono remains at Level II (Alert), with volcanic activity described as fluctuating and capable of generating periodic ash eruptions.

He said authorities have urged residents, visitors and tourists to avoid any activities within a four-kilometre radius of the Malupang Warirang Crater, the centre of eruptive activity.

Residents living around the volcano are advised to prepare masks or face coverings to protect against volcanic ash, which may pose risks to the respiratory system.

-- BERNAMA