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)