The initial eruption of a large volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali has been small but a larger one could follow, warns a U.S.-based volcanologist.
Dr. Janine Krippner, who has been following the volcano’s rumblings since September, said the small phreatic eruption had been anticipated.
“They said if something did happen it was likely to be small — it might be larger afterwards but it would start out small,” said Krippner.
“A phreatic eruption is basically one where there is no magma involved. We’ve all seen the steaming, the steam plume at the top of the volcano,” she said.
“And what can happen with volcanos is some of the steam can get trapped, and it can be pressurized, and it can cause an explosion.”
The initial eruption sent a plume of steam and ash up to 800 meters (2,624 ft) above its summit.
In September, Indonesian authorities ordered the evacuation of residents living near Mt. Agung which last erupted in 1963. That eruption resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,600 people, many of whom were killed by clouds of hot gas.
The evacuation zone currently around Mt. Agung is 6-7.5 kilometers (3.7 – 4.6 miles) from the crater. There is no reason yet to broaden the zone, said Dewa Made Mertayasa who is the head of local efforts monitoring the volcano.
“The dangers are for [the people] living within a 6km to 7.5km radius from the crater,” Mertayasa told the ABC. “That evacuation zone should remain clear because the ash clouds are heading in that direction,” he said.
“The people should be on alert, as the volcano has been spewing ash cloud — though in small size and non-pyroclastic — but still the ash will affect the people surrounding Mt. Agung.”
Local police officials said there has been no sign of panic on the island in response to the eruption. Bali’s airport remains open and tourist areas are currently deemed safe.
Indonesia sits on the so-called Ring of Fire which is prone to earthquakes and volcano activity.
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