Alert status for Merapi

Alert status for Merapi

JP/Tarko Sudiarno

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Mt. Merapi (right photo) has been placed on
alert status after the 2,968-meter high mountain began showing
signs of increased volcanic activity, including a two-kilometer
lava flow from its crater.

Syamsul Rizal, head of the Yogyakarta based Volcanic
Technology Development and Research Station, said here on
Wednesday that multi-phase in the past fortnight has been twice
as high compared to the previous two weeks.

Syamsul called on residents around the mountain to be prepared
for the worse.

"I asked residents in Magelang, Yogyakarta, Boyolali, and
Klaten to be prepared, especially the ones on the west side" he
said.

The current alert is the second highest of four alert status'.
The highest status is issued when the volcano erupts.

Mt. Merapi, 27 kilometers north of Yogyakarta, is as one of
the most active volcanoes in the world.

An eruption in 1994 claimed dozens of lives, while in 1996
volcanic activity forced more than 8,000 residents to flee
surrounding areas. (23)