Mt Merapi belches more hot ash clouds

Mt Merapi belches more hot ash clouds

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Mt. Merapi belched more hot clouds yesterday,
but with the government easing the alert status, the volcano's
activity provoked more amazement than fear, at least among people
in Yogyakarta.

Hundreds of people thronged various spots about 30 km south of
the mountain yesterday, touted by locals as ideal and safe from
which to enjoy the spectacle of Mt. Merapi blowing its top.

At least six gushes of hot clouds were monitored in the early
hours yesterday, according the Directorate of Volcanology's
research office here.

The volcanic ash spread over a radius of three kilometers.

Directorate boss Sukhyar said hot ash fell on Ngepos village
in Srumbung subdistrict, Magelang regency.

There were no reports of casualties but the ash did destroy
many farms near the mountain.

People living on the slopes and foot of the mountain have been
put on alert for a possible evacuation since Mt. Merapi first
erupted Saturday morning.

Although the activity has significantly subsided, the
government has appealed to villagers to stay on the alert.

The 2,911-meter Merapi is one of the world's most active
volcanoes.

Sukhyar said the danger was not over as more hot cloud could
still spew out of the mountain.

Those living in the areas along the lava canals of Lamat,
Blongkeng, Bebeng and Krasak were most vulnerable, he said.

Ratdomo Purbo of the directorate's research station said the
lava and volcanic material accumulating in the mountain's crater
could descend on villages along the slope.

Yulianto, an official monitoring Mt. Merapi from the Babadan
observatory about four kilometers to the southwest said lava
flowed down the Sat and Lamat canals yesterday.

Mas Atje Purbawinata said areas to the west of Mt. Merapi were
most vulnerable because the western part of the crater had
crumbled increasing the likelihood of a lava flood.

Yesterday, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Haryono
Suyono visited the observatory and nearby villages that have been
covered by volcanic ash. (23/44)