INDONESIA: Vulcanologists warn residents living near Indonesia's rumbling volcano not to let guard down

Record ID: 872852

  • Title: INDONESIA: Vulcanologists warn residents living near Indonesia's rumbling volcano not to let guard down
  • Date: 9th May 2006
  • Summary: WIDE OF VOLCANO IN EARLY MORNING HOURS CLOSEUP OF LAVA GLOW
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • City:
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAA9YJQ924TR5BCN7I76QEOG6F0
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: More than three weeks after placing Mount Merapi on its second highest alert level, vulcanologists on Monday (May 8) urged Indonesians living on the volcano slopes not to let their guard down.
    "It's been observed that the growth of the crater wall is still ongoing and until now the volume has accumulated to 1.3 million cubic metres, meaning that the growth rate is about 100,000 to 150,000 cubic metres per day," said Subandriyo, chief of Merapi Observation Unit at the state-run Centre for Volcano Research and Technology Development.
    "We urge people not to let down their guard and follow recommendations issued by local authorities. It's best not to neglect signs that are pointing us to more critical conditions," he added.
    Authorities have placed Mount Merapi -- or Fiery Mountain -- on Orange Code following fears of an eruption due to an increase in the number of tremors and lava spills. They have also warned that the volcano is nearing 'eruption phase' as lava started to spill last week.
    While not mandating evacuation, authorities have been urging people to leave voluntarily. Several thousands people have moved away from the volcano, but officials put the total number of residents on and near the country's most active volcano at around 14, 000.
    Most of those who have relocated are women, children and the elderly, but many return daily to their homes near the volcano during the day to feed their animals and work on their farms. Many villagers living on the slopes or nearby, fearing they would lose property and livestock if they go, stay behind and plan to evacuate only after nature sends signals or the government forces them to leave.
    Immediate evacuation of people living under the volcano is mandatory only when vulcanologists have raised the alert level to its highest notch.
    Residents say signals would include lightning around the mountain's peak or wild animals moving down its slopes.
    Most Javanese, who make up the bulk of Indonesia's 220 million people, are Muslim, but many cling to a spiritual past and believe a supernatural kingdom exists on top of Merapi. Local residents consider Mount Merapi sacred, and every year a priest climbs to the top to make an offering.
    Indonesia sits astride the geologically active Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has more than 100 active volcanoes. Merapi killed 70 people in a 1994 eruption and 1,300 in 1930.
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