Mt Merapi belches more hot ash clouds<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Mt. Merapi belched more hot clouds yesterday,
\nbut with the government easing the alert status, the volcano's
\nactivity provoked more amazement than fear, at least among people
\nin Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people thronged various spots about 30 km south of
\nthe mountain yesterday, touted by locals as ideal and safe from
\nwhich to enjoy the spectacle of Mt. Merapi blowing its top.<\/p>\n
At least six gushes of hot clouds were monitored in the early
\nhours yesterday, according the Directorate of Volcanology's
\nresearch office here.<\/p>\n
The volcanic ash spread over a radius of three kilometers.<\/p>\n
Directorate boss Sukhyar said hot ash fell on Ngepos village
\nin Srumbung subdistrict, Magelang regency.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of casualties but the ash did destroy
\nmany farms near the mountain.<\/p>\n
People living on the slopes and foot of the mountain have been
\nput on alert for a possible evacuation since Mt. Merapi first
\nerupted Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
Although the activity has significantly subsided, the
\ngovernment has appealed to villagers to stay on the alert.<\/p>\n
The 2,911-meter Merapi is one of the world's most active
\nvolcanoes.<\/p>\n
Sukhyar said the danger was not over as more hot cloud could
\nstill spew out of the mountain.<\/p>\n
Those living in the areas along the lava canals of Lamat,
\nBlongkeng, Bebeng and Krasak were most vulnerable, he said.<\/p>\n
Ratdomo Purbo of the directorate's research station said the
\nlava and volcanic material accumulating in the mountain's crater
\ncould descend on villages along the slope.<\/p>\n
Yulianto, an official monitoring Mt. Merapi from the Babadan
\nobservatory about four kilometers to the southwest said lava
\nflowed down the Sat and Lamat canals yesterday.<\/p>\n
Mas Atje Purbawinata said areas to the west of Mt. Merapi were
\nmost vulnerable because the western part of the crater had
\ncrumbled increasing the likelihood of a lava flood.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Haryono
\nSuyono visited the observatory and nearby villages that have been
\ncovered by volcanic ash. (23\/44)<\/p>",
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