The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) says that there has been no apparent increase in volcanic activity at Lombok’s Mt. Rinjani, since its eruption yesterday, but hikers should err on the side of caution and refrain from climbing.
“There is no increase in the volcanic activity of Mt. Rinjani” BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement on Monday evening, as quoted by Tribun Bali.
Nevertheless, Sutopo advises that now’s not a good time to climb Rinjani and hikers should put at least 1.5 kilometers between themselves and the crater if they must trek around.
Yesterday’s 11:50 am eruption is believed to have been trigged by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake coming from Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara, according to Sutopo.
“The shock of the earthquake was felt by the people in the village of Sembalun Village around the slopes of Mt. Rinjani,” he said.
“The quake caused pressure within the bowels of Mt. Rinjani, causing the eruption.”
A number of Bali flights were affected by the eruption yesterday, with multiple delays and cancellations, while Lombok’s airport totally shut down.
