Merapi ash hits town 150 km away

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)