Quakes shake Dieng fumarole

Quakes shake Dieng fumarole

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: Sixty-two quakes have for the past two months jolted Dieng Plateau, Banjarnegara regency, Antara reported.

Spokesman of the Banjarnegara administration, Setiawan, said it is time for the local people to be on the alert over the possible explosion of toxic gas from the fumaroles there.

Some of the quakes were shallow tectonic quakes, which were considered the most dangerous as they created cracks and crevices through which poisonous gases might seep out, he said.

He also urged the local people to stay away from the crater at night and early morning so as to not inhale the poisonous carbon dioxide (CO) which usually lingers one meter above land surface.

At daytime, the sunshine turns the gas into CO2 which is absorbed by plants and no longer dangerous.

Setiawan said there are many fumaroles on the plateau, but a monitoring outpost in Batur district keeps watch on only 12 fumaroles considered to be the most dangerous.

According to the post's records, 49 people died in 1928 when the Timbang Fumarole spewed poisonous gas. In 1944, 144 people died when Sileri Fumarole spurted gas. In 1979, the Sinila Fumarole spewed gas which killed 149 people. (swe)