The Bandung administration has temporarily closed Mount Tangkuban Parahu, a popular tourist destination in Bandung regency, West Java, following increased minor phreatic eruptions on Saturday.



The Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Center (PVMBG) at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has called on residents and visitors to not come within a 1.5 kilometer radius of the craters, especially its Ratu crater. The PVMBG has also raised the mountain's status from 'normal' to 'caution'.



'We advise people to not visit the craters at Mt. Tangkuban Parahu. People, however, are still allowed to visit [nearby tourist spots] Maribaya or Ciater hot springs complex,' PVMBG head M. Hendrasto said as quoted by Tempo.co in Bandung on Saturday.



He said that his team had detected a minor eruption in the Ratu crater at around 6:21 a.m., adding that further eruptions might possibly occur. He also reminded the public of the potential discharge of toxic gas from the mountain.



After the eruption, Hendrasto went on, Ratu crater had emitted thick white gas clouds about 300 meters into the sky. He said that his office also detected increasing seismic activities during that hour. After the findings, officers at the

Tangkuban Parahu monitoring post immediately forbade people from venturing in the area around the crater.



The eruption occurred at the same spot where the 2,076-meter high mountain erupted in February.



Earlier in February, Mt. Tangkuban Parahu was also closed to the public after it spewed volcanic ash from its Ratu crater.



'If the situation worsens, we will take further steps,' Gede Swandika, a monitoring officer at the PVMBG, said as quoted by Tribunnews.com.



The crater's volcanic activity, Swandika said, had left 5 to 10 millimeters of volcanic ash around the crater.



Meanwhile, Subang regency administration secretary Abdurakhman has called on nearby residents to remain alert. 'Don't panic,' Abdurakhman said, adding that he had instructed all district and subdistrict heads around Mt. Tangkuban Parahu to inform residents about the increasing volcanic activity.



Asep Setia Permana, a Ciater village resident, said that he had gotten used to hearing news on eruptions. 'It has happened several times so we remain calm, but we are staying alert,' said Asep.

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