More fatalities and Merapi signals new eruption

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Mount Merapi, which has already killed 46 villagers since last Tuesday, was showing new activity as of yesterday.

Between Saturday and Sunday, the volcano jolted the surrounding areas with two tremors and two earthquakes of low frequency.

"These activities signal the possibility of a new eruption," an official of the local volcanology observation office told newsmen here yesterday.

Five more patients who were badly burned by hot gas emitted from the volcano died yesterday, bringing the number of those killed to 46.

Until yesterday there were still 17 patients in serious condition, one a four-year-old boy whose parents have yet to be identified.

Mas Atje Purbawinata of the volcanology agency said yesterday that judging by the new activities Merapi might spew new heat clouds. But he could not predict when.

"The public should remain very alert, " Atje said.

He said the difference between tremors and earthquakes of low frequency is that the former is recorded for a longer time on the seismograph.

Atje said that the tremors caused by volcanic activity usually indicate new eruptions, although final conclusions would not be possible until after other parameters were taken into consideration.

He also said that between 06.00 hours and noon yesterday Merapi discharged lava 36 times and that such high frequency should serve as a warning for the people, especially those living along Code River, to remain on alert.

Over the weekend Minister of Health Sujudi visited the survivors here and brought medical aid to the four hospitals which treated Merapi victims: Sardjito, Panti Rapih, Bathesda and Muhammadiyah, the last three of which are private hospitals.

Yesterday the stricken people, now housed in various shelters, were also visited by Probo Sutedjo, a noted businessman, and Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.

Probo donated Rp 300 million and three truckloads of food materials to the casualties. He said that the survivors informed him they have no objections to the President Soeharto's offer on Saturday to join the government-sponsored transmigration program, rather than returning to their villages located within the danger zones.

"They don't mind the offer as long the program is managed properly," Probo quoted the people as saying. (har/wah/tis)