Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s Geological Agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on December 30 raised the alert level for Mount Burni Telong in Aceh province to the second-highest on the country’s four-tier volcano alert system, amid a series of inland tremors recorded in the area.
The agency said this marks the highest alert level imposed on Mount Burni Telong since mid-2025, coinciding with a period of frequent earthquakes affecting Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah.
Lana Saria, acting head of the agency, said the alert upgrade aims to prevent residents and tourists from approaching the crater within a 4-km radius. Authorities also warned people to stay away from fumarole and solfatara areas, particularly during cloudy or rainy weather, as toxic gas concentrations could pose life-threatening risks. Local authorities have evacuated residents from three villages located within a 2-km radius of the crater.
Mount Burni Telong is a 2,624-mm stratovolcano formed by multiple layers of lava and eruptive materials, making it prone to explosive eruptions and highly hazardous.
Indonesia, an archipelago located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has more than 120 active volcanoes and frequently faces geological hazards./.
Indonesia raises alert for Semeru volcano to highest level
The 3,676-metre volcano spewed ash clouds as high as 2,000 metres above the mountain's peak, the agency said, adding residents should keep to a 2.5-kilometre distance away due to risks.
