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)