Mt. Merapi calm, but residents remain on alert

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)