Mount Merapi Still a Threat
Wednesday, 28 June, 2006 | 17:25 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta:The Mount Merapi volcano is still quite active.

Although in quantity the hot clouds have decreased, their quality is increasing.

Yesterday Mount Merapi's hot clouds swept towards the Gendol river with a total distance of to 4.5 kilometers.

However, on the previous day, the distance travelled by the hot clouds gush was only four kilometers.

“So far Merapi's status is maintained on the alert because the flow of hot clouds is still high,” said Subandriyo, Head of the Mount Merapi Division at the Agency for Assessment and Application of oulcanic Technology, when met yesterday (27/6).

Yesterday, for 14 hours, from midnight until 2pm WIB (Indonesian Western Time), Mount Merapi discharged hot clouds a total of 14 times.

The largest occurrence of hot clouds was at 10.08am, reaching a distance of 4.5 kilometers.

There were a total of 67 glowing lava flows, heading towards the Gendol and Krasak rivers.

The frequent lava flows, according to Subandriyo, show that there still is movement inside the volcano.

This also indicates that the magma supply from mountain's crust still continues.

“On that base, the alert status is still be maintained,” said Subandriyo.

Meanwhile, the position of the new dome on Mount Merapi has shifted four meters towards the North.

The new dome appeared where the lava dome at the beginning of this year had slid to.

“We are not yet certain whether or not the shift will create new threats in other sectors. However, we keep watching the movements,” said Subandriyo.

In Klaten, the people around the foothills of Mount Merapi are requested to be more cautious.

The numerous natural dams around the Merapi foothills that were destructed by sand mining and causes the lava streams to spread out.

“Sand miners have been warned several times because their activities can endanger other people,” said Imam Purwadi, Deputy of Executive Chief of Disaster Relief and Refugee Coordinating Unit.

Syaiful Amin and Imron Rosyid