The number of people escaping rumbling Bali volcano has risen to nearly 144,000 and the local authority has established early warning system devices as eruption is imminent, a senior official of the national disaster management agency said Saturday.
Mount Agung volcano of 3,031 meters high in Karang Asem district is on the top alert level with continuing hike of seismic activities.
Spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that the evacuees take shelters at 471 evacuation centers in nine districts.
To immediately disseminate information to the people when the eruption takes place, he said that sirens have been installed in six spots around the dangerous zone, the system known as iCast Rapid Deployement Notification System (iRaditid).
“The purpose of the installment is to inform a warning of danger resulted from the eruption of Mount Agung to the people,” he told Xinhua in a text message.
Besides, the authority has also set up 54 signs telling the position of villagers from the no-go zone, said Sutopo.
Hot ash with 600 to 800 degrees Celsius can move with a speed of 200 to 300 kilometers per hour, he added.
Evacuation zone has been extended to 12 km from the crater in the north, northeast, south, southeast and southwest.
The volcano last erupted in 1963, leaving about 1,100 people dead.