TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - A number of rivers with their headwaters in the slope of Mt Merapi, Central Java, are facing massive cold lava floods potential resulted from the eruption in 2010. The conclusion was withdrawn after an observation on the Merapi's peak using drones on Thursday.
The Head of the Natural Disaster Study Center (PSBA) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Djati Mardianto said that flooding is possible to happen if there is a high intensity of rain around the mountain's peak.
Djati predicted the volume of 2010 eruption leftover is around 140 million meters cubic and only half of this volume had come down in the past three years.
He showed the aerial photos that indicate risks of cold lava flowing along the Gendol River, Putih River, Krasak River, and Pabelan River that flow towards the town of Muntilan.
"Disaster mitigation strategy should be prepared since there are thousands of sand mining trucks operating along Gendol River," Djati added.
The head of Aeronautics Technology Center of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) said that the aerial photographs taken by the drones are helpful to map evacuation routes for the trucks when a threat of cold lava flooding occurs.
ADDI MAWAHIBUN IDHOM
