ERUPTION HAZARD AND CHALLENGES OF VOLCANIC CRISIS MANAGEMENT ON A SMALL ISLAND: A CASE STUDY ON TERNATE ISLAND – INDONESIA

Abstract

Ternate Island is a volcanic island formed by the product of Gamalama volcano since thousands
of years ago until the present time. It covers 111.4 km2 and inhabited by more than 200,000 people. Its small
size and dense population make it vulnerable to eruption hazards. This study aims to analyze the Gamalama
volcano eruption hazard and the challenges of crisis management due to eruption on the small volcanic island
of Ternate. This research also offers potential solutions for reducing the risk of catastrophic eruptions on small
volcanic islands. Data on eruption events, including the type of eruption and the impact are collected and
analyzed to see various potential eruption hazards. Besides, the analysis was also carried out to find potential
solutions for volcanic risk management on small volcanic islands. The results show that the Ternate Island has
the potential volcanic hazard, (primary), i.e., ejecting and incandescent of volcanic material (volcanic ash, sand,
gravel, and bomb), lava flow, and pyroclastic flow. The other hazard (secondary) can be in the form of lahar
and volcanic-tsunamis. A small island with dense population and all kinds of limitations will be more
susceptible to eruption. The potential strategy that must be developed for volcanic risk management on a small
island is the sister island concept. This concept is a networking system between communities on disaster-prone
islands and communities on other islands that are safe to prepare evacuation procedures to avoid chaos in a
volcanic crisis.