REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TERNATE -- The Ternate Government on Monday evacuated 1,498 people from the two villages of Loto and Togafo near Mount Gamalama, which has been spewing volcanic materials since last Saturday.

"The refugees have been provided accommodation in the headquarters of the Indonesian Navy Base and the Learning Activities Studio Hall (SKB) in Ternate," Head of Ternate's Labor and Social Affairs Jusuf Sunya stated here on Monday.

Sunya pointed out that the local government has also prepared two shelters for the refugees at Vocational High School II Hall and the Hall of Ternate Fishery and Maritime Service.

He remarked that the Ternate Administration has created an inventory of the number of victims, especially the people located in the two villages Takome and Afetaduma affected by the Gamalama eruption.

He also urged the elder people and children to evacuate in a bid to avoid contracting diseases due to exposure to volcanic ash emitted by Mount Gamalama.

With regard to Mount Gamalama's eruption, the Ternate administration has launched emergency efforts, effective July 18 and will last until August 1, 2015.

The administration is utilizing the local unexpected funding from the 2015 Regional Budget to mitigate the damage caused by Mount Gamalama's eruption.

Earlier, Mount Gamalama in Ternate, North Maluku, erupted once again at 8:10 a.m. local time (GMT+8) on Saturday, spewing volcanic ash to heights reaching up to 800 meters from its caldera.

Head of the Mount Gamalama Observation Post Darno Lamane noted here on Saturday that the volcanic ash was blowing in the western direction of Ternate city.

The observation post recorded 15 volcanic tremors of amplitudes ranging between 0.5 and 1.5 millimeters, with the earthquake lasting for 26.16 to 62.12 seconds.

In addition, it also recorded tectonic movements, with amplitudes between 3 and 42 millimeters as S-P (secondary to primary) waves hit for 12.13 seconds thrice, and an earthquake that lasted 34.85 to 92.52 seconds.

Lamane pointed out that the alert status around Mount Gamalama was still "caution," which is level II, even though the volcano continues to spew ash.

"Since last morning, Mount Gamalama recorded tectonic movements six times, with an amplitude of 44 millimeters, with S-P waves lasting for 0.32 to 11.14 seconds, within a duration of 130.61 seconds," Lamane stated.

According to the observation post, on Friday, July 17, between 6 a.m. local time and midnight, Mount Gamalama recorded volcanic tremors, with amplitudes in the range of 0.5 to 2 millimeters. Thick clouds of volcanic ash were spewed by its caldera to a height of some one thousand meters.

The post also recorded tremors for 7.15 seconds and witnessed dark clouds of volcanic ash.

So far, faint rumbling sounds have been heard from the crater of Mount Gamalama, while the thin ash being discharged is drifting in the direction of the western island of Ternate.

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