Manado, North Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Mount Lokon in N Sulawesi had five small eruptions producing volcanic ashes from its Tompaluan crater on Wednesday.

"The eruptions were small and not dangerous," Head of Mount Lokon and Mahawu Observation Post in Kakaskasen, Tomohon, Farid Ruskanda Bina, said here Wednesday.

Farid said that a series of eruptions occurred at 8:03, 8:12, 8:23, 8:44 and 9:29 am local time.

"The height of the eruptions were difficult in the thick fog covering the crater, leaving limited vision for observation," he said.

Earlier on 6 pm Tuesday (Sept 13) the monitoring post recorded three distant tectonic quakes and 11 shallow volcanic quakes, four gusts and an eruption.

The monitoring post also recorded a distant tectonic quake, one deep volcanic quake, four shallow quakes and two gusts from 00.00 to 6 am on Wednesday.

"The mount`s volcanic energy is released in the form of small eruptions. But a larger eruption may occur some time," said Farid.

Besides volcanic and tectonic earthquakes, tremors are still recorded continuously with increasing amplitude.

Tremor amplitude was recorded 1-10 millimeters, with three dominant millimeters.

"We will continue evaluate the seismic developments. Moreover, the tremor`s amplitude keeps changing, sometimes increasing significantly," he said.

Farid said that until now the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) is still determining the status of Mount Lokon at alert III with a 2.5 kilometers danger radius from the Tompaluan crater.

"We hope that local residents remain on alert because some eruptions may still occur. This indicates that the mount`s activity is still above normal," he said.
(Uu.A050/H-NG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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