Mt. Merapi active again

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)