Mt. Merapi active again

SEMARANG: Officials in Yogyakarta monitoring Mt. Merapi recorded 19 tremors on Jan. 16, an indication that the 2,968 meter high volcano is highly active.

Head of the Mt. Merapi monitoring post, Mas Atje Purbawinata, said in Yogyakarta that he has put his staff on alert for a possible worsening development.

The last major eruption of the volcano, known as one of the most active in the world, killed almost 70 people and displaced several thousand families in 1993.

Purbawinata said people residing near the mountain should be wary of major lahars during the rainy season and of hot volcanic ash.

Since spewing hot ash on Nov. 22 last year, Merapi's level of activity has been unpredictable, Antara reported. (pan)