Residents living around Mt. Merapi on red alert<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Authorities raised the warning status Thursday
\nin areas closest to Mt. Merapi from \"ready\" to \"alert\", the
\nhighest warning level, as Indonesia's most active volcano has
\nshowed a significant increase in activity.<\/p>\n
More than 200 people living near the Boyong River, considered
\nto be the most vulnerable area, have been ordered to evacuate
\ntheir homes.<\/p>\n
The volcano has increased in activity over the past weeks. For
\nthe last few days it has spewed hot clouds and hot ash across the
\narea surrounding the Boyong, Bebeng and Krasak rivers and more
\nthan a thousand small earthquakes have been recorded at the top
\nof the volcano.<\/p>\n
\"The hot gas clouds are very dangerous and have erupted in a
\nthree kilometer radius in the direction of the Boyong, Bebeng and
\nKrasak rivers. That is why Merapi's status has been upgraded to
\n'alert',\" head of the Mount Merapi Section of the Directorate of
\nVolcanology Mas Atje Purbawinata told The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
The \"alert\" warning means that residents of the danger zones
\nshould evacuate their homes immediately.<\/p>\n
Vulcanologists have predicted that Merapi will erupt soon.<\/p>\n
The volcano last erupted in Nov. 1994, killing 70 people,
\ninjuring more than 100 and causing significant damage to
\nsurrounding areas.<\/p>\n
Atje said his office had sent several warnings about the
\npossibility of the disaster to authorities in Yogyakarta and the
\nregencies of Sleman, Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten.<\/p>\n
Sunarto, an official at the Kaliurang monitoring center, said
\nthe evacuated residents are being sheltered at nearby Hargobangun
\nrefuge posts, or moved at least three kilometers from their
\nhomes.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted volcanology director Wimpy S. Tjetjep as saying
\nin Yogyakarta yesterday that the \"alert\" status will hold until
\nafter the next evaluation in one or two days.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the volcano was reported to have had a lull in its
\nactivities, with only one gas eruption after dawn.<\/p>\n
The decrease in activity did not necessarily mean the volcano
\nwas not active. It was essential to analyze and measure the
\nfrequency of the surface earthquakes and energy from the
\nmountain's center, he said.<\/p>\n
The authorities are preparing medical facilities and
\npersonnel, establishing communal kitchen and stocking up on food,
\nin case of emergency.<\/p>\n
The 2,962-meter-high Merapi in the southern part of Central
\nJava is one of 127 volcanoes in Indonesia, which lies along what
\nis known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. The mountain is one of the
\nmost active volcanoes in the world. It has erupted several times
\nsince 1970.<\/p>\n
After the 1994 eruption, local government closed several areas
\nnear Merapi for settlement. There are still up to 2,000 people
\nliving in those danger areas. (har\/ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-living-around-mt-merapi-on-red-alert-1447893297",
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