PVMBG

PVMBG, or Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi, is the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. It is a technical working unit of the Geological Agency within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Its mandate is to monitor volcanic activity and assess geological hazards across Indonesia, provide early warnings, and support mitigation and emergency response to disasters.

The agency maintains a network of volcano observatories and monitoring stations that collect seismic, deformation, gas emission, and thermal data. It analyzes eruption forecasts, issues alert levels and hazard assessments, and produces hazard maps and risk information for authorities and the public. PVMBG coordinates with the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) and local governments during eruptions and other geological events, facilitating response planning and evacuation decisions.

PVMBG also conducts research and public education on volcanic and geological hazards, and it collaborates with universities, research institutes, and international networks to improve monitoring techniques and risk communication. It publishes status bulletins and regular updates, and provides accessible maps and data on active volcanoes.

Indonesia’s active volcanoes, including Merapi, Semeru, Anak Krakatau, and Kelud, are among those monitored by PVMBG. The agency has played a central role during major eruptions and related crises, helping to issue warnings, coordinate evacuations, and inform disaster management efforts. Historically, PVMBG emerged from previous volcanic monitoring programs and remains a key component of Indonesia’s disaster risk reduction framework within the Geological Agency.