Semeru lava threatening

Semeru lava threatening

LUMAJANG, East Java: Villagers living on the slope of the 3,676 meter Mt. Semeru have been ordered to prepare to evacuate in case the cold lava piling up around the crater begins to descend.

The villagers joined in one drill on Wednesday organized by the local Natural Disaster Containment Unit.

The unit's head, Abdul Rachman, told Antara that the first exercise involved 768 families, or 3,352 people, about 70 percent of the people believed to be living in dangerous zones.

"The main thing is to get these people well prepared for if and when the disaster strikes," he said.

The likelihood of a lava slide has been enhanced as the rainy season is now reaching its peak.

Three volcano monitoring stations are keeping watch along the clock. (emb)