Yogya safe from Merapi eruption
Situated almost in the center of the island of Java, Mt. Merapi erupted again on July 11 and July 19. Hot clouds known as pyroclastic flows slid down the western slopes of Merapi to a distance of six kilometers from its crater. This area is unpopulated and, therefore, Merapi's eruption this time has not affected any villages. During the height of the eruption, some villages situated further down the mountain were asked to evacuate but most people have now returned.
However, volcanic ash has fallen on several towns, including Muntilan, and on the Buddhist temple, Borobudur. Archeologists are now busy cleaning up the temple from its cover of ash as its residue may cause irreparable damage.
"The Prambanan-Yogyakarta-Borobudur tourist corridor lies far from the volcanic threat," affirmed Dr. A. Ratdomopurbo, head of the Office of the Development of Methods and Volcanic Technology in Yogyakarta. Borobudur lies about 20 km from Merapi. In fact, Dr. Ratdomopurbo invites tours to be held now to his post because the eruption provides spectacular views rarely seen anywhere else. There is certainly no reason for tourists to delay any plans to visit this area.
Mt. Merapi has an almost perfect conical shape, not unlike Mt. Fuji in Japan, but with a flat crater. For the population of Java, Mt. Merapi is held sacred as it provides continuous fertile land after every ash fall and therefore, provides food for the teeming inhabitants of this area.
Separately, in order to assuage the population of Yogyakarta and to avoid violence in this province, the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Hamengkubuwono X and Governor Paku Alam VIII, appealed to the people on May 20, 1998, to refrain from violence in their aspirations for more democracy and political reform. They asked that the people guard national unity and pray for peace according to their respective religions. As an immediate reaction to the appeal from their charismatic leaders, the population has ensured that the province of Yogyakarta remained calm during the past turbulent months.
To obtain more information on Mt. Merapi's activities, Balai Penyelidikan dan Pengembangan Teknologi Kegunungapian can be contacted at Jl. Cendana 15, Yogyakarta, 55166, Telp (62-274) 514192 and 514180 or Fax (62-274) 563630.
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