Mount Merapi Erupts, Spews Lava up to 1.5 Km Three Times

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, Mount Merapi, erupted on Friday, September 15, spewing incandescent lava up to 1,500 meters three times. The Yogyakarta Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) reported on Friday.

“Three incandescent lava avalanches were observed with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters to the southwest (Bebeng River),” the agency head Agus Budi Santoso explained based on the monitoring from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.

There were also 27 earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-11 mm for 42.6-110.8 seconds and 159 multi-phase earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-8 mm for 4.9-9.9 seconds. Smoke over the mountain's crater was observed to be white in color with light intensity and at a height of 50-200 meters.

BPPTKG confirmed that the volcano’s status remained at alert Level III or Siaga (Watch) since it was declared in November 2020.

The lava avalanche and hot clouds have the potential to affect Roro River up to three kilometers from the peak, Gendol River up to five kilometers from the summit, Boyong River up to five kilometers from the summit, as well as Bedog River, Krasak River and Bebeng River up to seven kilometers from the summit.

Budi also stressed that in the event of an explosive eruption, the volcanic material ejected from Mount Merapi could reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the summit.

ANTARA

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