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)