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Indonesia: Mt Agung Volcano - Sep 2017

Disaster description

The increasing unrest in the Agung Volcano in Bali, Indonesia, since 10 August 2017 has led the authorities to raise the alert at the highest level. Evacuations have taken place in an area of up to 12 km around the volcano. (ECHO, 24 Sep 2017)

As of 24 September, nearly 35,000 people have been evacuated from their homes near active Mt Agung Volcano in Bali and dispersed across 238 locations in seven districts in Bali...On 24 September, the national disaster management agency (BNPB) sent 14 tons of assistance to the island and is providing over IDR 1 billion (US$ 75,000) to Karangasem District to operationalize the Command Post there and is preparing ready-to-use budget for emergency response activities. (OCHA, 25 Sep 2017)

On 22 September 2017 at 20.30, Indonesian Authorities (PVMBG) increased the status of Mount Agung in Bali from Level Three (High Alert: Orange/Ready to erupt) to Level Four (Red alert/Danger), the highest level for a volcano and the third consecutive rise in a week...As of 20:00 on 25 September, [BNPB] evacuated more than 63,000 people from their homes, however the number keeps steadily rising. The evacuees are dispersed across 9 districts in more than 300 locations, with the majority of evacuees in Karangasem, Klungkung and Buleleng. More than 21,000 are in Karangasem, the 523 square kilometres district surrounding the volcano. (IFRC, 27 Sep 2017.)

As of 13 October, there were around 138,000 evacuees dispersed across 9 districts in more than 350 locations. The majority are in Karangasem, Klungkung and Buleleng. More than 50,000 are in Karangasem. (IFRC, 13 Oct 2017)

On 29 October, [PVMBG] lowered the alert level of Mt. Agung...from Level IV (Dangerous) to Level III (Alert). Evacuees who lived outside the no activity zone are beginning to return home but advised by authorities to remain cautious. The emergency response period for handling evacuees remain in effect until 9 November. Over 140,000 people evacuated following the increase in the alert level issued on 29 September. (OCHA, 30 Oct 2017)

Mount Agung...erupted again on [25 November 2017] at 5:30 pm Bali time. Grayish-black medium pressure ash columns were observed to reach a height of 1.500 m above the peak. Eruption was visually observed from the Culik and Batulompeh areas to the West-Southwest. This is the second eruption with a higher ashes column than the previous one. The first eruption occurred on [21 November 2017] at 5:05 pm Bali time. (Gov't of Indonesia, 26 Nov 2017)

The Indonesian authorities have raised the state of Mount Agung in Bali to its highest level (Level IV), since 06:00 ICST. [BNPB]...The main airport in Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is closed temporarily from Monday morning (27/11) at 07:15 ICST to Tuesday morning (28/11) at 07.:00 ICST. (Gov't of Indonesia, 27 Nov 2017)

On 23 and 24 December, a series of new eruptions from Mt. Agung on Bali island were recorded, with no major impact. An estimated 71,000 affected people remain in 239 evacuation sites. The central government maintained a high level of attention on the Mt. Agung emergency response. (OCHA, 26 Dec 2017)

The Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazan Mitigation lowered the radius of estimated danger zone around Mt Agung to six kilometres from the crater, permitting thousands of people to return to their homes. Meanwhile, the alert status remains at Level IV (Danger), and 70,610 people still staying in 240 evacuation sites. (OCHA, 8 Jan 2018)

On 15 January 2018, Mt. Agung erupted again, sending ash up to 2,500 meters into the air, on the northeast side of the volcano. A six-kilometer danger zone remains in place and as of 14 January almost 50,000 people evacuated from their homes are being hosted in 299 sites. (OCHA, 15 Jan 2018)

Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG) stated that there is a drastic drop in volcano’s activity in January 2018 compared to December 2017. Dozens of mild magmatic and phreatic eruptions have been recorded. The last recorded eruption was on 23 January 2018. Given the prolonged duration of the emergency and with the instruction of the head of the district, the exclusion zone was reduced to 6 KM and may likely be reduced even further. The number of evacuees has also declined. By 30 January 2018, official records reports show 23,682 evacuees in 185 evacuation sites across 9 districts. (IFRC, 13 Feb 2018)

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