Sleman to build Merapi museum

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

As part of efforts to educate the public on Mount Merapi, the Sleman regency government plans to start the construction of a Mount Merapi museum in December.

The government has earmarked Rp 80 billion (US$8 million) for the museum construction.

"The museum is important to provide the public with information on Mount Merapi," said Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyakto.

The museum will be built on two hectares of land in Kaliurang tourist resort in Banteng subdistrict, Sleman.

Besides the museum, the government will also build an Imax theater and the replica of Mount Merapi. The museum will depict the impact of Merapi eruptions since 1006.

The funding for the museum construction came from various parties with Yogyakarta provincial government contributing Rp 3 billion, the central government Rp 24 billion, while the rest will be covered by the Sleman regency government.

Regent Ibnu said the regental government was also planning to build biology and wax museums near the Mount Merapi Museum.

Merapi has had 68 major eruptions since 1548 with the latest being in 1987.

As the volcano is considered volatile and it is close to Yogyakarta city, it is now the target of increased research efforts.