Fumarole death blamed on poor signs

Fumarole death blamed on poor signs

BANDUNG: The director of the Vulcanology office, A. Djumarma
Wirakusumah, said that a villager named Sahmad, 40, who died
recently from inhaling poisonous gas in the Dieng mountain range
in Central Java was due to a "lack of danger zone signs put up by
the local administration around the mountain."

"We have detected three fumaroles featuring increased activity
of poisonous gas in Dieng mountain plateau, Banjarnegara in
Central Java," Djumarma said.

The three fumaroles, Timbang I, Sigludug and Sinila have a
carbon dioxide concentration of between 40 to 70 percent.

"Because the signs are old and damaged, locals are unaware of
the situation. The local administration should put up more
signs," he said.

In the worst recorded incident, poisonous gas from Sinila
fumarole killed 149 people on Feb. 29, 1979. (25/edt)