Bali's Gunung Agung Alert Level Raised

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Agung2.jpg

Gunung Agung (Photograph courtesy of Paul Arps, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Update Sept 22, 2017: Alert status now upgraded to level 4, the highest level.

Eruption now believed imminent. Exclusion zone extended to at least 9 km, and to at least 12 km in the North, North East, South East and South West.

Evacuation now underway, and 9,421 people have been evacuated.

https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasion...3472/status-gunung-agung-meningkat-jadi-awas/


UPDATE Sept 19, 2017 Alert Level Further Increased to Level III

Alert increased to level III as of 21:00 WITA on Monday September 18, 2017. Exclusion zone increased to 6 km.

https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3648786/status-gunung-agung-jadi-siaga-warga-diimbau-waspada


Agung.JPG




Gunung Agung, the tallest volcano on the holiday resort island of Bali, has shown increased volcanic activity since last August.

Accordingly, the Indonesian Geological Survey has increased it's alert level to level 2, or Alert. It advises people to stay outside a 3 km radius from the volcano and stay below 1500 mean sea level.

Agung.JPG

Gunung Agung and three kilometer exclusion zone.

Gunung Agung last errupted in 1963, and claimed around 1700 lives.

The Indonesian Geological Survey rates volcanic activity from 1 (Normal) to 4 (Danger). Located in the "Ring of Fire", Indonesia currently has 1 volcano categorized in the Danger level: Mt. Sinabung in North Sumatra, and 19 other volcanoes in the Alert level. (https://magma.vsi.esdm.go.id/)
 
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Interesting. How likely is it that those safety parameters will be observed? I don't know what's in the exclusion zone - houses? commercial properties? hiking paths? Or just jungle?
 
Puspawarna said:
Interesting. How likely is it that those safety parameters will be observed? I don't know what's in the exclusion zone - houses? commercial properties? hiking paths? Or just jungle?
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The main concern, I would think, is the famous Pura Besakih perched about 3000 feet up the south slope of volcano. If that was destroyed those little money-grabbing youth, who extort fees, will need to get real jobs.
 
Davita said:
The main concern, I would think, is the famous Pura Besakih perched about 3000 feet up the south slope of volcano. If that was destroyed those little money-grabbing youth, who extort fees, will need to get real jobs.
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Unfortunately , the quite stunning group of temples is despoiled by the local tourist mafia
 
Puspawarna said:
Interesting. How likely is it that those safety parameters will be observed? I don't know what's in the exclusion zone - houses? commercial properties? hiking paths? Or just jungle?
Click to expand...

Not 100% sure, but I think within 3 km there are only hiking paths, no permanent structures or settlements. As can be seen in the map, Pura Besakih is at least 6 km away.
 
I heard from some locals who lived in kuta the last time it went bang in 63 , they never seen the sun for 2 weeks the sky was black with dust .
 
Potentially dangerous areas according to BNPB, the National Disaster Relief Agency. Up to 80,000 live in the area.

 
80,000 is a lot of people to evacuate. I hope the mountain calms down soon.
 
Where's Joe (Tom Hanks..'Joe and the Volcano') when we really need him?
 
Puspawarna said:
80,000 is a lot of people to evacuate. I hope the mountain calms down soon.
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I don't know much about volcanoes, so maybe someone else knows: Is there a chance that it will just calm down? Or is an eruption at this point just a matter of time? The alert went from 1 to 3 in a matter of days.
 
dafluff said:
I don't know much about volcanoes, so maybe someone else knows: Is there a chance that it will just calm down? Or is an eruption at this point just a matter of time? The alert went from 1 to 3 in a matter of days.
Click to expand...


I know nothing about volcanos, but what I have read about other serious volcanic eruptions, there are usually warning signs which should not be ignored at your peril, so if warnings are given take notice or else
 
dafluff said:
I don't know much about volcanoes, so maybe someone else knows: Is there a chance that it will just calm down? Or is an eruption at this point just a matter of time? The alert went from 1 to 3 in a matter of days.
Click to expand...
Anglian said:
I know nothing about volcanos, but what I have read about other serious volcanic eruptions, there are usually warning signs which should not be ignored at your peril, so if warnings are given take notice or else
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If Krakatoa is an example we could be in for serious New Year fireworks in Bali.....from Wiki....
"While seismic activity around the volcano was intense in the years preceding the cataclysmic 1883 eruption, a series of lesser eruptions began on May 20, 1883. The volcano released huge plumes of steam and ash lasting until late August.
On August 27 a series of four huge explosions almost entirely destroyed the island. The explosions were so violent that they were heard 3,110 km (1,930 mi) away in Perth, Western Australia, and the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius, 4,800 km (3,000 mi) away."

I can see Mount Agung from a flat part of my roof. Note to self.....consider crowd-funding to pay for the Joglo I've always wanted to put on the roof...and promise a seat for the big event...:thumb:
 
Davita said:
The main concern, I would think, is the famous Pura Besakih perched about 3000 feet up the south slope of volcano. If that was destroyed those little money-grabbing youth, who extort fees, will need to get real jobs.
Click to expand...
And that would be a karma event that would not bring tears to my eyes...
 
Even though the alert level nor the exclusion zone has been increased, the tremors are increasing daily. There are now reportedly over 500 small tremors per day around the volcano, with a few being more forceful. BNPB (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana) reports that magma flows are now only 5 km below the surface, and are pushing up towards the surface, and that eruption is now very likely. (link in Indonesian)

Many people beyond the exclusion zone have voluntarily evacuated. Up to Thursday afternoon (Sept 20) there are over 4750 evacuees, with numbers increasing. This is not counting people who have moved in with relatives or other unofficial channels (link in Indonesian) .Klungkung Regency reports they are ready to take 15000 evacuees (link in Indonesian)

The areas around Gunung Agung are already some of the poorest in Bali since they are not tourist areas, and are also quite barren. Evacuees report having to either abandon or sell their livestock for very cheap, which will increase the misery long after the mountain has erupted. (link in Indonesian)
 
That's so sad and frightening. At least there is a warning and an adequate disaster response can be prepared.
 
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