Merapi's cold lava hazardous

SLEMAN: The authorities have closed the Boyong River to sand quarriers because of fears of a major lava flood from Mt. Merapi, which erupted on Jan. 17.

However the regent is allowing traditional quarriers who collect sand with rudimentary equipment, such as hoes, to continue their activities because they should be able to escape if a flood does occur.

The ban applies to large-scale quarriers who use sophisticated equipment and trucks, Sleman regent Arifin Ilyas said.

Last year, 17 trucks were buried when a lava flood hit rivers originating in Mt. Merapi, which borders Yogyakarta and Central Java.

About 18,000 people in the surrounding regencies were evacuated when the volcano exploded.

Experts have estimated that more than three million cubic meters of cold lava has accumulated at the top of the mountain. (har/23)