Mt. Merapi calm, but residents remain on alert

MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): Residents living near Mt. Merapi have been told to remain alert despite a decline in the volcano's activity over the past two days.

"Despite a reduction in the number of quakes recorded and hot gas being discharged, we are maintaining Merapi's alert status and calling on residents to remain aware, especially of the danger of the hot gas," the head of the Mt. Merapi inspection section, Mas Atje Purbawinata, told The Jakarta Post.

Press reports said that some 1,300 residents who were evacuated on Saturday from villages surrounding Merapi, Indonesia's most active volcano, have returned. They are, however, still barred from sleeping in their homes.

In the past few weeks, the mountain has caused alarm with increasing signs of activity. On Oct. 24, the authorities declared its status "alert", the highest warning category, which indicates that the volcano could erupt at any time.

More than 6,300 families living near the volcano could be in peril if the mountain releases hot gas and lava. The regencies on high alert are Boyolali, Magelang, Klaten and Sleman.

On Saturday night Tlogolele village, Boyolali, received a shower of volcanic dust.

In 1994, heat clouds from the 2,911-meter Merapi, which dominates the plain of southern Central Java, killed 70 people, injured more than 100, forced over 6,000 people to flee and caused extensive damage to surrounding areas.

Merapi also erupted in November 1976, killing 28 people and rendering 1,176 homeless.

Mas Atje explained that predicting the release of hot gas is a difficult task and residents have been told to be prepared for immediate evacuation at any time.

He said that based on reports from five observation posts, Merapi yesterday remained surrounded by clouds. A stream of lava was seen trickling down from the mountain's 1,000-meter level in the direction of Krasak River.

Boyolali regent Syahrial Makgalatung said yesterday that residents had also been told to prepare for evacuation if necessary.

He said that village chiefs had been contacted and contingency plans to transport residents had been devised. Evacuation centers have also been prepared, equipped with temporary shelter and food.

"The bottom line is the local authorities are quite ready and will try their best to avoid any fatalities," Syahrial said.

Meanwhile, in Turgo village in the neighboring Sleman regency, residents are already spending their nights at evacuation shelters because their village is especially prone to the effects of Merapi's hot gas and lava.

The residents are allowed to return to their houses in the morning to continue their daily activities.

While the possibility of danger has not passed, the director of volcanology, Wimpy S. Tjetjep, said the current volcanic activity is not as critical as it was in 1994. (har/mds)