Mount Merapi, located on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces in Indonesia, has erupted again. The volcano has even been recorded to have released pyroclastic flows 15 times on Sunday (12/3).
According to the report compiled by Ahmad Sopari, the pyroclastic flows were observed between 00:00 and 24:00 Western Indonesia Time, and “15 pyroclastic flows were observed with a maximum slide distance of 2,500 meters to the southwest.”
In addition, based on observations, there were 21 times when glowing lava avalanches occurred with a maximum slide distance of 2,000 meters to the southwest.
Furthermore, on Monday (13/3) between 00:00 and 06:00 Western Indonesia Time, Mount Merapi erupted with one pyroclastic flow, sliding a maximum distance of 1,200 meters to the southwest.
“The glowing lava avalanches occurred 30 times with a maximum slide distance of 1,100 meters to the southwest,” said Susanta, the author of the report.
Previously, the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) had declared that the status of Mount Merapi remained at Level III or Alert.
The current potential hazards include lava and pyroclastic flows in the southwest sector, including the Boyong River up to a maximum distance of 5 kilometers, and the Bedog, Bebeng, and Krasak rivers up to a maximum distance of 7 kilometers.
In the southeast sector, Woro River up to a maximum distance of 3 kilometers, and Gendol River up to a maximum distance of 5 kilometers are also potentially affected. Meanwhile, volcanic ash could reach a radius of 3 kilometers from the peak if an explosive eruption occurs.
The Vice Regent of Sleman, Yogyakarta, Danang Maharsa, has ensured that evacuation routes and refugee camps are ready to be used if Mount Merapi erupts again.
“Evacuation routes at all points and refugee camps in Sleman are currently ready to be used if needed,” Danang said during a disaster response readiness monitoring on the slopes of Mount Merapi on Sunday.
Therefore, he asked the public not to panic too much but to remain vigilant and stay at a safe distance.
