Tourists told to beware of Merapi

YOGYAKARTA: Holidaymakers in the cool resort of Kaliurang are advised to be watchful of a possible eruption of the nearby Merapi volcano.

The mountain bordering Yogyakarta and Central Java remains highly active after it erupted on Jan. 19, forcing about 18,000 people in nearby regencies to flee their homes.

"Feel free to go to Kaliurang but you have to be careful of possible heat clouds spewing from Merapi," said Mas Atje Purbawinata, chief of the Merapi Monitoring Office in Yogyakarta Saturday.

Kaliurang was reopened to the public late January after Merapi's volcanic activity subsided.

The holiday resort is located about 15 kilometers from the mountain. Officials and experts say the area is vulnerable to lava floods along the Boyong river during rainy days.

"The area was among the worst hit in past eruptions," Purbawinata was quoted by Antara as saying.

When Merapi erupted on Nov. 22, 1994, an observatory post in western Kaliurang was hit and burned by heat clouds. Almost 70 people died and dozens were injured in the calamity. (pan)