Mount Ibu Erupts Again Today, Ash Column Reaches 5,000 Meters

Mount Ibu in North Maluku erupted again on Thursday (16/5/2024) at 09.58 WIT. In the last week, Mount Ibu has erupted 9 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the height of the ash column was observed to be approximately 5,000 meters above the peak (6,325 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity towards the north and northeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 28 millimeters and a duration of 354 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Ibu's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on May 16, 2024, from 00.00-06.00 WIT showed 63 instances of tremor with amplitudes of 1.5-18 millimeters and durations of 8-27 seconds.

Then, there were 3 harmonic tremors with amplitudes of 1-4 millimeters and durations of 12-21 seconds, and 189 shallow volcanic earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-28 millimeters and durations of 7-24 seconds.

PVMBG advises the public around Mount Ibu and visitors/tourists not to engage in activities within a 3-kilometer radius and a 5-kilometer sectoral extension towards the crater opening in the northern part of Mount Ibu's active crater.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 698 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java had the most eruptions (244 eruptions), while Mount Ibu erupted 86 times.