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Indonesian volcano unleashes river of lava and gases in new eruption
By Slamet Riyadi
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Yogyakarta: Indonesiaâs most active volcano has erupted with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 1600 metres down its slopes.
It was Mount Merapiâs biggest lava flow since authorities raised its danger level in November, said Hanik Humaida, the head of Yogyakartaâs Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre.
A volunteer monitors Mount Merapi during an eruption.
Credit:AP
After morning rain, ashfall turned into muck in several villages, where the sound of the eruption on Wednesday could be heard 30 kilometres away. Police and rescue services told miners to cease work along rivers but no one was evacuated.
Indonesia s most active volcano erupted Wednesday with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) down its slopes. It was the Mount Merapi s longest lava flow since authorities raised the volatile volcano s danger level in November, said Hanik Humaida, the head of Yogyakarta s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center. The alert level was being maintained for now at the second-highest level, she said, and people should stay out of the existing 5-kilometer (3-mile) danger zone around the crater as the local administrations in Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces closely monitor the situation. The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) volcano is on the densely populated island of Java and near the ancient city of Yogyakarta. It is the most active of dozens of Indonesian volcanoes and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently.