Frequency of Mt Bromo Tremors Remains High: PVMBG

Bromo volcano spews smoke, ash and strong sulfurous gasses

Seismic activity of Mount Bromo in East Java is still high and the alert status remains at Level III, said head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG).

“Volcanic activity of the 2,329 meter high mountain is still high and tremors are fluctuating with an increasing tendency,” he said.

“Visually the mountain could be seen clearly with clouds. The weather is fine with temperature at between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius and a soft breeze blowing.”

The volcano was spewing a column of smoke and ash to a height of up to  400 meters on Saturday.

PVMBG had issued an exclusion order for the area within 2.5 kilometer radius from the crater, earlier, urging  both the villagers and tourists to refrain from any activity within the banned area.

In addition to the hazards caused by sudden small explosions, strong sulfurous gasses were being emitted from the crater that could cause severe respiratory problems, warned PVMBG.

Bromo Volcano, marked as Tengger Caldera, is seen to the left of Tambora on the map. Tengger Caldera houses five volcanoes: Mt Bromo (2,329m), Mt Batok (2,470m), Mt Kursi (2,580m), Mt Watangan (2,660m) and Mt Widodaren (2,650m).

The Tengger massif in east Java, Indonesia, featuring Mt. Bromo (large smoking crater, ) and Mt. Semeru (background, smoking). The early morning fog surrounds the peaks surrounded by the “Sea of Sand.” Wikipedia CC license.

Malang airport, located about 70km from Mt Bromo was closed on Friday due to the eruption, said the Transportation Ministry.

Mt Sinabung Remains on ‘Red Alert’

Indonesian Volcano Alerts

Mt Sinabung remains on Red Alert, or “Level IV,” the highest level of activity, and three other volcanoes, Soputan, Karangetang and Lokon, stay at Level III, or Orange Alert, the second highest level of activity, according to Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG).

Up to 3,000 residents living within a 7-km radius of Mt. Sinabung, to the south and southeast of the volcano, were evacuated on June 4, 2015.

Following table shows the current status, as of June 14, 2015.

Indonesia Volcano Alerts as of June 14, 2015. Source: PVMBG. Image enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.

Approximate location of Sinabung is marked  on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130  active volcanoes

Related Links

• 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts November 16, 2013