INDONESIA: Villagers return to their farms despite increased volcanic activity by Mount Merapi

Record ID: 872563

  • Title: INDONESIA: Villagers return to their farms despite increased volcanic activity by Mount Merapi
  • Date: 10th June 2006
  • Summary: TRUCKS TAKING EVACUEES TO THE VILLAGE EVACUEES GETTING OFF TRUCK
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • City:
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA9EZ07LA61ZNBY8O24VZOVNM2F
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Villagers living on the slopes of nearby Mount Merapi returned to work on their farms and feed their livestock as the volcano continued to spew smoke and ash on Saturday (June 10).
    The lava and hot gas from the rumbling volcano is threatening thousands of people in Yogyakarta and Central Java.
    "We have returned to see our farm and tend to the livestock, we will go back to shelters in the afternoon" said 60 year-old Sedar.
    Some villagers living on the slopes or nearby, fearing they would lose property and livestock if they evacuated, plan to stay until nature sends signals or the government forces them to leave.
    Thousands of people have evacuated from Mount Merapi or Fiery Mountain which has been simmering for weeks. Officials said the total number of residents on and near the country's most active volcano at around 14,000.\
    Merapi killed 70 people in a 1994 eruption and 1,300 in 1930.
    The volcano is one of the most dangerous in the Pacific "Ring of Fire".
    Yogyakarta, an ancient royal capital 440 km (270 miles) east of Jakarta, is the nearest city to the volcano.
    Authorities in Indonesia have been urging people to leave the villages. Most of those who have relocated are women, children and the elderly. The government has mobilized trucks, cars and volunteers to evacuate villagers from subdistricts near the mountain.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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