Posted on 06/05/2006 10:57:09 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
JAKARTA (AFP) - Thousands of people have evacuated from the slopes of Indonesia's menacing Mount Merapi as lava flows spread further around the slopes of the volcano, officials have said.
The volcano was put on red alert -- indicating a feared imminent eruption -- on May 13 but residents have been particularly nervous since a deadly earthquake rocked the region 10 days ago.
A natural ridge formed by an eruption early in the last century and known as Geger Boyo which had so far helped contain larger lava flows to the southwest and west of the mountain has collapsed, they said.
"Geger Boyo disintegrated Monday night, exposing the southern and southeastern slopes to lava and heatcloud flows," said Triyani from the vulcanology office in Yogyakarta, 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) south of Merapi.
Indonesian authorities evacuated hundreds of people living in villages close to the peak of the volcano on Monday while thousands more joined their ranks voluntarily as the mountain's rumbling has escalated, officials said.
Fears were compounded by thick clouds blanketing the mountain through which a red glow at the top, indicating magmatic activity, could be seen, said Sukapti from the disaster management center in Yogyakarta's Pakem.
She said that by Monday at 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) camps in the four subdistricts around the slopes had seen their population jump to 3,680.
"But the figure must have certainly increased in the evening as more people came down on their own following fears that heatclouds may reach their hamlets," Sukapti said.
In the first six hours of Tuesday, 66 lava flows and 32 heatcloud torrents were recorded steaming out from the peak of Merapi, reaching only up to three kilometers down the slopes, mostly down the south and southeastern sides.
The further clouds have reached just over four kilometres since scientists announced their red alert, following which some 22,000 villagers were initially evacuated.
On Monday, Merapi belched 300 lava flows and 157 heatclouds, the vulcanology office's data showed.
Geologists have said that more than four million cubic meters of magma have now accumulated atop the volcano, almost double the volume recorded in the pre-quake period.
Merapi volcano spews hot smoke. Indonesian authorities have evacuated hundreds of people living near Mount Merapi as activity increased at the volcano for a ninth straight say since an earthquake rocked the region, officials said.(AFP/Tarko Sudiarno)
As feared by many, this baby is getting ready to blow.. or doing a good job acting like it.
Lava flows on the slopes of Mount Merapi as seen from Kalikuning near Yogyakarta, Indonesia, early Monday, June 5, 2006. Activity at the volcano has increased since last month's earthquake that killed at least 5,782 people, triggering fresh alerts from the government that a major eruption may be due. (AP Photo/Purwowiyoto)
So is a heat cloud different from the fog I feel when a beautiful woman walks by?
'Geologists have said that more than four million cubic meters of magma have now accumulated atop the volcano, almost double the volume recorded in the pre-quake period.'
Ah ok, something in the bible about fire and the numbers 666 isn't there?
Yeah but this is child's play compared to what's in the Bible. This doesn't even rate.
There is no way the muzzies will going to blame this to the West.
didnt one iman say the tsunami was revenge for decadent westerners and muslims providing holidays for them...i am sure the earthquake and volcano will just add to his 'proof'..
Didn't one Christian preacher say, "Thank God for 9/11"?
"Ring of Fire" redux, anyone?
Didn't one Christian preacher say, "Thank God for 9/11"?
Fred Phelps? Nah, he would have blamed it on Homos.
Indonesia is an interesting place to live. Interesting in a Chinese sort of way.
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