Volcano Merapi calms down

YOGYAKARTA: Volcanologists are waiting until Monday before lowering the alert level for Mt. Merapi, despite only minor activity occurring in the past few days.

The volcano is currently at its second highest level of alert after erupting nearly two weeks ago.

"We cannot lower the alert status of this volcano based on observations that it has settled down," Ratdomopurbo of the Volcanology Directorate's research office here said.

"It'll be lowered if its condition remains like this until next Monday," he told The Jakarta Post.

No hot clouds spewed from the mountain's crater and no significant volcanic activity was reported yesterday.

Merapi unleashed hot cloud and volcanic ash and sent lava flows down its slopes on Sunday, forcing a brief evacuation of 7,000 villagers living nearby.

In 1994 the mountain erupted sending hot clouds into the air which killed 66 people. (23/44)