At least 23 mud flows spewing methane gas have been found in Wiboa subdistrict in Kupang regency, East Nusa Tenggara, an official says.
Head of the regency's Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda), Victoria Kana Hebi, said some of the eruptions had created cones of mud with a diameter of between three and four meters wide, raising fears they could pose a threat to people's health and surrounding environment.
"We are also worried they may cause explosion of methane gas," she said.
She said the spots were similar to those previously found in Pantai Beringin and Poto subdistricts.
In the two subdistricts, the eruptions of mud had spread methane gas in a two-kilometer radius from their original source.
Victoria also raised concern that the mud could reach clean water sources and polluting them with sediments.
"We have deployed a technical team to observe the condition. We call on residents to avoid approaching the sites as the gas from the eruptions is toxic," she said.
Bapedalda has also took samples of the mud for further investigation into its chemical contents, she added.
Separately, geologist Herry Purnomo of the Bandung Geological and Vocanology Mitigation Agency said in Kupang that cold mud in Pantai Beringin and Poto could be the result of soil cracks.
"We have taken samples. We will know the substances contained in the mud only after laboratory tests have been conducted in Bandung *West Java*," Herry said.
He said that Timor Island has a lot of soil layer cracks that shift on tectonic plates and could be the cause of the eruptions.
Data at the Bapedalda Kupang shows that there are some 20 hot mud flows in Pantai Beringin and Poto subdistricts.
The eruptions' locations near residential areas has raised fears among residents, especially since no real efforts have been made by the local administration to stop the foul-smelling mud.
At least five mud eruptions have been found in the region over the last five years.
In Napan, Central Timor regency, the spews have created a mound of mud over seven meters high.
In East Amfoang, Kupang regency, a flow has created a lake of mud. While on Semau Island, another hill of mud has been created by a similar eruption.
The most sporadic eruptions occurred last year in di Mataloko, Golewa district in Ngada regency. Located near a geothermal exploration, the fumes were blamed for respiratory problems among residents in the surrounding areas.
The biggest mud flow disaster is located in Sidoarjo, East Java, which began spewing on May 29, 2006, when oil and gas company PT Lapindo Brantas, which is controlled by the family of Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, drilled parts of the area.
At least 40,000 people have been displaced by the disaster, which the Supreme Court said could not be blamed on Lapindo.
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