Mount Merapi Today: Launches 24 Times Incandescent Lava Falls To The Southwest

JAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java launched 24 times incandescent lava with a maximum sliding distance of 1,800 meters to the southwest on Wednesday from 00.00 to 06.00 WIB, according to the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG).

According to the Head of BPPTKG, Hanik Humaida, during the observation period Merapi also experienced 29 earthquake avalanches with an amplitude of 3-27 mm for 17-118 seconds and seven earthquake gusts with an amplitude of 4-8 mm for 13-15 seconds.

Mount Merapi, he continued, during that period also experienced 26 low-frequency earthquakes with an amplitude of 5-14 mm for 5-7 seconds and 15 multiphase earthquakes with an amplitude of 5-9 mm for 4-8 seconds.

"In addition, weak white smoke was observed coming out of the crater of Mount Merapi on Wednesday morning," said Hanik as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, September 29.

In the observation period Tuesday (28/9) at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi was recorded 13 times launching incandescent lava with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters to the southwest. Based on morphological analysis in the period 17 to 23 September 2021, BPPTKG recorded a lava dome southwest of Merapi has a volume of 1,600,000 cubic meters and the volume of the central dome is 2,854,000 cubic meters.

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

The lava fall and hot clouds of Merapi are estimated to have an impact on the south-southwest sector, which includes the Yellow, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih rivers.

In the event of an eruption, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.