Beyond Mount Merapi, Here Are Three Other Volcanoes in Indonesia on Level III Alert (Monday, March 13, 2023)

Mount Merapi, on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, ejected pyroclastic flows on Saturday (March 11, 2023) and Sunday (March 12, 2023). Despite the eruption, the volcano remains at Level III (Alert) as of today (March 13, 2023), according to data from Magma Indonesia.

Based on seismic observations from 00.00-06.00 WIB this morning, there was one pyroclastic flow earthquake with an amplitude of 60 millimeters (mm) and a duration of 104.5 seconds. Furthermore, there were 32 guguran (rockfall) earthquakes with amplitudes of 3-39 mm and durations of 26.7-143.8 seconds.

In addition, 9 hybrid/multiphase earthquakes were recorded, with amplitudes of 3-4 mm and durations of 5.7-6.9 seconds.

Magma Indonesia stated that the current potential hazards of Mount Merapi include lava flows and pyroclastic flows in the south-southwest sector, covering the Boyong River up to a maximum of 5 kilometers (km), the Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng Rivers up to a maximum of 7 km. In the southeast sector, this includes the Woro River up to a maximum of 3 km and the Gendol River up to 5 km.

On the other hand, according to Magma Indonesia, the ejection of volcanic material in the event of an explosive eruption could reach a radius of 3 km from the summit.

"The public (is urged) not to conduct any activities in the potential hazard area. Furthermore, the public should anticipate disruptions caused by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi and be aware of the danger of lahars, especially during rainfall," as quoted from the Magma Indonesia website, Monday (March 13, 2023).

Besides Mount Merapi, there are three other active volcanoes in Indonesia with a Level III (Alert) status, meaning they could escalate to an eruption.

These three volcanoes are Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung, Mount Karangetang in North Sulawesi, and Mount Semeru in East Java.

Furthermore, there are 17 active volcanoes in Indonesia with a Level II (Caution) status, including Mount Awu in North Sulawesi and Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi.

There are also 47 active volcanoes in Indonesia with a Level I (Normal) status. These include Mount Agung in Bali, Mount Ciremai in West Java, and Mount Wurlali in Maluku.

However, according to Magma Indonesia, currently there are no volcanoes in Indonesia with a Level IV (Warning) status.

Magma Indonesia notes that there are 127 active volcanoes in the Indonesian archipelago currently. However, only 69 active volcanoes are monitored by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).