Residents warned about lahar flow

YOGYAKARTA: An official has warned residents living near Mt. Merapi to stay alert to the possibility that lahar, which has been accumulating on top of the crater, may spill over causing floods during the rainy season.

Head of the Mt. Merapi section of the Directorate of Volcanology, Mas Atje Purbawinata, said 1,500 cubic meters of lahar had collected in the crater. Lahar is composed of volcanic debris and water.

"If there was a heavy downpour on the volcano, this would be washed down and flood the rivers," he said. He named Sat, Senowo, Krasak, Boyong and Bebeng as villages in the greatest danger.

Rain has fallen over some areas around the mountain, such as at Kaliurang, Ngepos and Sela, where the agency has set up surveillance posts.

Villages in the area have been put on "alert" due to the volcano's recent increase in activity, and residents have to be ready to evacuate once the instruction is given by the authority.

"However, we have to remain vigilant to the possibility of hot air clouds erupting from the volcano at any time," he said, adding that the residents on the upper course of the Krasak, Bebeng, Boyong, Sat and Senowo rivers should be particularly alert.

The agency reported that lahar was flowing at a speed of two kilometers per hour, accompanied by bursts of flame and small earthquakes.

In 1994, heat clouds from the 2,962-meter-high Merapi, which dominates the southern Central Java plains killed 70 people, injured more that 100, forced more than 6,000 people to flee and caused significant damage to surrounding areas.

Merapi, known as one of the most active volcanoes in the world, also erupted in November 1976, killing 28 people and leaving 1,176 homeless. (23/09)