Mt Merapi erupts again, residents flee in panic

Sleman, NU Online
Mount Merapi erupted again several times early Saturday morning causing residents living closest to the volcano to abandon their villages or settlements in panic.

The eruption was at first marked by loud explosions with the first blast heard at 00.40 am local time prompting people living on the slopes of Indonesia's most active volcano to evacuate<>.

Frightened locals left their homes on trucks, motor vehicles or on foot while calling out to other residents to take refuge.

For about 21 minutes, Mt Merapi produced loud explosive bangs as well as thick and hot clouds that struck residents with fear.

Head of Yogyakarta's Vulcanology Technology Development and Assessment Agency (BPPTK) Subandriyo said the strong explosions with hot clouds took place from 0.16 am to 0.37 am Western Indonesia Time.

The explosions took place because magma was welling up from the depths of the earth at high speed.

"Early on Saturday, the volcano emitted accumulated gases in the form of hot clouds and other volcanic materials with roaring sounds," Subandryo said.

Mt Merapi near Yogyakarta erupted on Tuesday early this week killing at least 32 people, including its "spiritual guardian", ` Mbah Maridjan.

A total of 17,776 people in Sleman district, Yogyakarta, and 13,757 people in Magelang district, Central Java, have so far been evacuated to safer places following the eruption of Mt Merapi on Tuesday. (ant/dar)