Expert warns of Mt. Merapi lahar<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java: The large lahar dome on the peak of
\nMount Merapi has begun to crack and poses a real threat as the
\nregion enters the rainy season, according to a volcanology
\nofficial.<\/p>\n
Mas Atje Purbawinata, who heads the volcanology office in
\nYogyakarta, 30 kilometers south of Merapi, warned people living
\non the upper slopes of the 2,914 meter conic volcano to be
\nprepared for sudden cold lahar avalanches brought on by heavy
\nrain.<\/p>\n
The dome on top of the mountain consists of an estimated 4.1
\nmillion cubic meters of lahar.<\/p>\n
Such avalanches may also give rise to deadly heat clouds, with
\ntemperatures of at least 600 degrees Celsius, burning everything
\ndown the slope of the volcano.<\/p>\n
The volcano is already spewing columns of smoke 900 meters
\nhigh from the rim of the crater. In the past few days, erratic
\nlow frequency tremors have been recorded.<\/p>\n
Purbawinata was quoted by Antara as saying that heavy rain
\ncould carry sediment into river beds on the mountain slopes and
\ncause flash flooding in the form of mud.<\/p>\n
Merapi last erupted in 1994 with heat clouds killing more than
\n60 people and forcing more than 6,000 people to evacuate to safer
\nareas. An eruption in November 1976 killed 28 people and left
\n1,176 people homeless. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-warns-of-mt-merapi-lahar-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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