BNPB reports 644 residents evacuated as Mt. Ibu erupts

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that 644 residents from West Halmahera, North Maluku, were evacuated to mitigate the effects of the ongoing eruption of Mount Ibu, currently classified at Level IV or Alert.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, noted in a statement on Monday that the number of evacuees will increase following the ongoing evacuation of residents from six villages in Tabaru Sub-district, West Halmahera.

Based on data from the Mount Ibu Eruption Emergency Command Post, until Sunday, hundreds of residents were relocated to evacuation sites spread across six locations.

The BNPB specified that the Tongute Sungi village hall evacuation site is currently housing 22 families consisting of 56 individuals, while the Tongute Sungi Church evacuation site has taken in 98 families, totaling 245 residents, and the Akesibu Church evacuation site accommodates 28 families with 70 residents.

Additionally, the Tongute Goin Elementary School evacuation site shelters 18 families with 40 residents, the Akesibu Vocational School evacuation site has 71 families, totaling 188 residents, and the Akesibu Elementary School evacuation site accommodates 31 families comprising 65 residents.

Muhari emphasized that the agency continues to provide assistance and ensures that emergency response handling can run smoothly.

One of the priorities is distributing necessities for the evacuation site. The government is also increasing vehicle support to expedite the distribution, he added.

"Each evacuation site submits a list of needs which the logistic team will fulfil," he stated.

Mount Ibu's alert status was elevated from Level III to Level IV on January 15 by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

This change in status follows a significant uptick in volcanic activity detected by the Geological Agency team between January 1 and January 14, 2025.

As of Monday, the eruption was still ongoing, with the ash column reaching an average height of 1,000 meters above the volcano's peak.

The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of 61 seconds at the Volcano Observation Post in Gam Ici Village, Ibu Sub-district, West Halmahera.

The local government determined an emergency response status for 14 days for maximum emergency handling, starting on January 15, 2025.