Ternate on High Alert as Gamalama Volcanic Activity Increased

Liputan6.com, Ternate - A potentially dangerous volcanic mountain of Gamalama in the city of Ternate, North Maluku is reported to have shown alarming activity. The volcano observation post in the area confirms the activity. It informs that the alarming behaviour is increasing. There was evidence of earthquake which was accompanied by other occurrences such as mountains spewing black volcanic ash.

The Head of the Mount Gamalama observation post, Darno Lamane said in Ternate that the activity coming from the mountain is monitored regularly. Darno also shared how his team recorded an earthquake as long as 7.15 seconds shook the region with inevitable bursts of volcanic ash coloured black.

"Up until now, there has already been four long-range tectonic kind of earthquake with specification of 3-42 mm, SP 10,08 seconds with the longest period of earthquake recorded to have reached 25- 50 seconds," Darno explains in Ternate, Thursday, (2512/2014).

In accordance to the visual and instrumental data analysis collected and recorded by the Mount Gamalama observatory post team, the activity in the mountain continues to rise and so the security status remains on high alert III.

"We have witnessed an increased in the volcanic mountain’s activity since Wednesday afternoon. There has not been any sign showing the reduction of the activity," Darno explained.

According to him, as he observes since 06.00 local time, there are signs of tremor caused by amplitudo 0,5-2 mm and visual recording shows the volcanic ashes thickens to 400 meter seen from the crater of Mount Gamalama.

Apart from that, there are still sounds coming from the crater of that mountain. Earlier on Tuesday, the mountain shows that its active as it gags volcanic ash directed towards the south and west of Ternate. (Akp/Riz)