Indonesia is currently dealing with a volcanic eruption, and authorities have halted tourism and mining on the slopes of the country’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi. The volcano is located on the island of Java, which happens to be one of the most important places of tourism.
One Wednesday before midnight, and into the hourly hours of Thursday, the volcano erupted hot ash, with pyroclastic flows, which is a mixture of lava, rock, and gas. Traveling up to 5 km down the slopes, the volcano caused a menace.
The lava flow of Mount Merapi has been dubbed as the biggest since its danger level was raised back in November 2020.
Hanik Humaida, head of Yogyakarta’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center, said, “Dozens of light eruptions continued during the day Thursday with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 2.5 kilometers down its slopes. No casualties were reported. About 253 people were evacuated to temporary shelters but they returned to the volcano’s fertile slopes after the activity subsided.”
It has been reported that residents of Merapi have been evacuated and asked to stay 7 km away from the crater’s mouth. The lava is posing a major threat in the region.
Both the lava dome below Merapi’s southwest rim, and the dome in the crater have been active since last year.
