The recent eruption of Mt. Barujari, the small but feisty volcano located in the caldera of Mt. Rinjani has many wondering if an eruption of Bali’s Mt. Agung could be likely.
The highest mountain in Bali, Agung is apparently on a 40-year eruption cycle, give or take.
With the last Agung eruption in 1963, experts are saying an Agung eruption could really happen at any time.
Head of the Bali Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Dewa Made Indra says it’s only a possibility, it not a certainty, but Agung could send us a big bang at any moment.
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“Indeed, there is a cycle like that, but it’s not exact, it’s not necessarily going to erupt every 40 years, could be more,” Indra told Merdeka on Wednesday.
For sure, because if it were exactly on schedule, we would have seen an erruption in 2003, anyway.
To anticipate an Agung eruption, The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) works together with BPBD, Basarnas (Search and Rescue), Fire team, and number of other agencies to routinely monitor and prepare for an Agung eruptions with simulation drills.
“We anticipate everything from the start, so if a disaster strikes, personnel are ready,” Indra said.
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Meanwhile, related to the impact of Rinjani’s eruption on Sept. 27, BPBD prepared thousands of masks to distribute in Karangasem, east Bali, if the ash from Lombok made its way. However, so far, Bali has not been hit with volcanic ash this week.
