Merapi ash hits town 150 km away

Antara

MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): The volcanic ash spewed by Mount Merapi in the past few days has fallen about 150 kilometers west of the volcano on parts of Gombong town, Kebumen regency.

The head of the Volcanology Directorate's research office here, Ratdomopurbo, said yesterday a strong easterly wind blew the ash over the town.

He said Gombong residents were amazed that their town could be hit by volcanic ash from Merapi.

"Frankly speaking, it's the first time volcanic ash ever fell on this town," a resident who called the research center was quoted by Ratdomopurbo as saying.

Despite its warning status being lowered on each of the past two days, residents living near the volcano were still asked to remain on alert yesterday, particularly for hot clouds that followed the volcano's lava flows.

"By 6 p.m. the mountain had spewed hot clouds five times," Ratdomopurbo said.

Lava was also seen flowing Tuesday evening (above)

He said the resulting lava flows found their way to the five- kilometer-long lava canals of Lamat and Sat on the west side of Merapi.

So far residents from the area around the mountain have not been evacuated. (23/44)