Status: 03/10/2022 11:16 a.m
In Indonesia, Mount Merapi volcano erupted overnight, spewing clouds of ash and lava. About 250 residents had to be brought to safety. There are no reports of injuries or deaths.
The Mount Merapi volcano on the Indonesian island of Java erupted overnight, forcing hundreds of people to flee. A mixture of hot lava, ash and gases was pouring down the southeastern slope of the mountain, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the national disaster relief agency. In addition, a rain of ash fell on several villages. More than 250 residents had to get to safety. An exclusion zone has been set up around the volcano in a five-kilometer radius.
Flowing embers down into the valley
The more than 2900 meter high Merapi is a so-called stratovolcano. On the slopes of the volcano on the densely populated island of Java, so-called pyroclastic flows of rock, lava and gas made their way over several kilometers towards the valley. The chances of escaping these rapidly flowing clouds of embers are slim. The rumble of Mount Merapi could be heard several kilometers away. Two villages in the Yogyakarta region have been evacuated, the spokesman said. In several others, a layer of ash covered houses and streets.
Most active volcano in Indonesia
The Indonesian volcanic authority left the alert level for Mount Merapi at the second highest on the four-part scale. It has been there since Mount Merapi first erupted in November.
Mount Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia. It is about 35 kilometers north of the city of Yogyakarta. The last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people. 20,000 villagers were brought to safety at the time. The Semeru volcano on Java also erupted last December. 48 people were killed and 36 are still missing.
There are nearly 130 active volcanoes nationwide. The island nation of Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for seismic tremors.