Merapi survivors want to go home

Merapi survivors want to go home

YOGYAKARTA: Survivors of the recent Mt. Merapi eruption have
lost patience with living in refugee barracks and want to return
to their villages, located within the danger zone.

Yogyakarta military commander, Lt. Col. Supiadi, confirmed the
report by saying the villagers wanted to go home after they heard
rumors that the authorities had intentions of sending them to
transmigration projects outside Java.

Merapi erupted on Nov. 22 killing 56 people and forcing
hundreds of others to shelters. Local authorities believe dozens
of people are still missing.

Supiadi also told The Jakarta Post he has received reports
that officials, responsible for aid distribution to Merapi
victims, have made use of the operation for their own ends.

"If I find anyone manipulating the situation to meet their own
needs, I will take stern measures," he said.

Officials of the volcanology agency yesterday recorded that
the volcano spewed out molten lava 88 times yesterday, reaching a
radius of one kilometer, they said.

Heavy rains on Wednesday night made the Code river, which had
been clogged with lava, overflow, inundating 40 houses in this
Central Java town. No casualties were reported. (har/tis)