Mount Merapi calms down

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The intense activity on Mount Merapi calmed down on Sunday after discharging fine ash on Saturday morning, but volcanologists warned that the unpredictable volcano could "awaken" again in the near future.

Head of the Volcanic Technology and Methodology Development Section of the Volcanic Technology and Research Development Station (BPPTK) Antonius Ratdomopurbo told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the 2,968-meter-high Mount Merapi's activity had been slowing down since Saturday afternoon. "But that does not indicate that its in a period of dormancy," he said.

"This is one of the most unique characters of Mount Merapi.Its activity increases and decreases during a certain period. Its crater discharges lava and hot clouds irregularly," he said.

On Saturday, the volcano emitted ash after a continuous discharge of hot lava and clouds from its crater for two hours -- the longest period of lava discharge during its recent activity.

BPPTK records show the volcano spewed out hot clouds 21 times from midnight on Saturday to early Sunday morning.

Ratdomo said the volcano had been active for a month and so a big eruption was very possible. "However the volcano could also become dormant," he said.

"That's why the alert status on the volcano was issued on Jan. 14 when it started discharging lava and hot clouds."

Therefore, he said, people must be on the alert at all times.

"Any activity, particularly sand quarrying along the Sat, Senowo and Bebeng rivers, must be halted," he said.

Mount Merapi, the most active volcano in Java has claimed 2,500 lives since the 19th century. Its biggest eruption took place in 1930 when more than 1,300 people were killed. (44)