Lava threatens Yogyakarta

Lava threatens Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA: Two dams located in the upstream of Boyong river are unable to accommodate further volcanic material from Mt. Merapi after heavy rains on Sunday flushed down thousands of cubic meters of lava into the river, the Antara news agency reported.

Five dams have been built in the river, which is located south of the volcano which erupted in November. Each dam is capable of accommodating some 300 cubic meters of volcanic material.

Mas Atje Purbawinata of the volcanology office said there are currently some 11 million cubic meters of volcanic material on top of Mt. Merapi, one million cubic meters of which is extremely unstable and may descend during heavy rains.(pwn)