Mount Merapi Experienced 161 Earthquakes Falls

YOGYAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) stated that Mount Merapi on the border of DI Yogyakarta and Central Java experienced 161 avalanches during the observation period on Saturday, January 15.

Head of BPPTKG Hanik Humaida said apart from avalanche earthquakes, during the observation period, three hybrid or multi-phase earthquakes were recorded, three gusts, one shallow volcanic earthquake, and one tectonic earthquake.

Based on visual observations, it appears white smoke is coming out of Mount Merapi with moderate intensity and thick with a height of about 200 meters above the peak.

During the observation period, six incandescent lava avalanches were recorded from the mountain with a maximum sliding distance of 1,800 meters to the southwest.

Meanwhile, based on the results of morphological analysis in the period 7 to 13 January 2022, no significant morphological changes were observed, both in the southwest lava dome and the middle dome of Merapi.

The volume of the lava dome in the southwest is recorded at 1,670,000 cubic meters and the central dome at 3,007,000 cubic meters.

BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Standby.

The lava fall and hot clouds of Mount Merapi are estimated to have an impact on the southeast-southwest sector for a maximum of three kilometers to the Woro River and five kilometers to the Gendol, Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih rivers.

If the volcano experiences an explosive eruption, the ejection of volcanic material can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.