Merapi's volcanic activities subside amid thick fog: Rizal
Merapi's volcanic activities subside amid thick fog: Rizal
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Mount Merapi's volcanic activities subsided
on Monday as most parts of the mountain were covered by thick
fog, chief of Volcanic Technology and Research Development
(BPPTK) Syamsul Rizal said.
"Thick fog hindered visual observation of the volcano's
activities. If there is hot smoke, we cannot say where it (the
smoke) will head," he said by phone on Monday. Lava was flowing
up to 2.7 kilometers from the peak of the mountain and hot clouds
were spewing ash about three kilometers down from the volcano, he
said.
Although there was no evacuation, residents at the foot of the
2,968-meter Mount Merapi remained on alert on Monday as the
volcano spewed lava and hot clouds down its southwest slopes.
From Srumbung district it was reported that none of the
residents had left their homes since the volcano erupted on
Saturday, a local village official named Wihardjo said on Monday.
Officials said that they were maintaining the highest level of
(the volcano's) alert status, which has been in place since
Saturday.
"There are still signs of a possible eruption," Syamsul said.
Local leaders in the area, however, said that "residents will
only leave their homes if conditions reach a critical state".
"There is no evacuation today. They are all carrying out their
normal activities. It is a fact that residents are used to living
on dangerous ground here from time to time," Dukun district chief
Sarwadi told The Jakarta Post by phone on Monday.
"People here believe that heat clouds which took place on
Sabtu Pahing, Saturday according to Javanese calender, will not
harm them but the possible eruption on Selasa Kliwon tomorrow
(Tuesday) will be dangerous," Sarwadi said.
On Saturday hundreds of people were evacuated and authorities
announced the top alert level -- meaning an eruption was imminent
-- when Merapi belched hot clouds and lava that ran 6.5
kilometers down its slopes.
Those people, however, returned home on Sunday.
As of Monday, Merapi's alert status has remained unchanged
since it was raised to the Awas Merapi top level on Saturday
following increasing volcanic activity.
Health officials had distributed thousands of masks to
residents in three main districts on the east side of the
mountain to protect people from ash which was projected from the
volcano during Saturday eruptions.
During 1994 eruption, 60 residents of Turgo village on the
southern side of the volcano's slope were burned to death when
their village was hit by hot clouds. (44/edt)