Thermal Cameras will be Added, Says Energy Minister during Inspection to Mount Semeru

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 464.Pers/04/SJI/2021

Date: 17 December 2021

Thermal Cameras will be Added, Says Energy Minister during Inspection to Mount Semeru

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Arifin Tasrif, on Friday (17/12), inspected the conditions around Mount Semeru after the volcano status was raised to level III (Watch) on Thursday (16/12).

"Regarding the increase in the status of Mount Semeru, yesterday there were indications that seismic activity increased and (based on) visual observations in the field. As a result of the previous eruption, there was a lahar spill that blocks the river. If it rains, the lahar spill will widen. If there is another eruption, the effects will be greater. Therefore, we set the status to level III. For areas that have been mapped, and the maps have been released and can be used, please refrain from doing any activities in the radius indicated on the map," said the Minister of EMR after visiting the Semeru Volcano Observatory in Lumajang Regency, East Java.

Arifin went on to explain that after the eruption on December 4, 2021, there were about 8 million cubic meters of sand that blocked the Besuk Kobokan river, the path where lahar flows from Mount Semeru when it erupts.

"If this area is blocked, the lahar flow will spill out when the volcano erupts again. For this reason, we are conducting a new mapping and urging the public to comply," added Arifin.

The Ministry of EMR will also add and modernize the observation system at the observatory, which includes installation of thermal cameras at the Besuk Kobokan area to monitor the temperature of pyroclastic flows when an eruption occurs.

"In the future, we will complete our observation system: we will add some equipment and upgrade the system. If the equipment is still standard, we will add it at several points. For example, thermal cameras are currently installed only in areas where the spots are visible. We will see if there is a potential for pyroclastic flows to other areas, and if there is, we will install thermal cameras. A thermal camera detects heat, and we will install these at the Besuk Kobokan area. If there is a pyroclastic flow, we will immediately know the temperature. The problem is, it's 13 kilometers long, and currently the area around the crater is foggy. We are looking for ways to reach a closer observation point," said Arifin.

Speaking on the Early Warning System (EWS), Minister Arifin said that the EWS had been running according to the mechanism. The increase in volcanic activity will always be monitored, and the results of the monitoring will be communicated to the community through a WhatsApp group which consists of the regional disaster mitigation agency (BPBD), sub-district heads, village heads, local community leaders, and volunteers.

"Because there is no equipment that can detect whether a volcano will erupt in 1 or 2 hours, we have to determine in which areas people must not do any activities. This is a safeguard that must be done. The current mechanism at Mount Semeru is that if (seismic and visual activity is) detected, the information is immediately communicated to the WA group. That's the fastest thing we can do. This mechanism is done at all volcanoes, such as at Mount Sinabung and Mount Merapi," said Arifin.

On the same occasion, Deputy Regent of Lumajang, Indah Amperawati Masdar, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of EMR for modernizing and adding monitoring equipment for Mount Semeru.

"The Minister has promised to upgrade and modernize the equipment here. I'd like to thank you for that, Minister," stated Indah. (IY)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

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