Mount Merapi Launches 3 Times Hot Clouds Fall

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java launched three hot clouds of avalanches with each sliding distance of 1.8 kilometers to the southwest.

Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Hanik Humaida through his official statement in Yogyakarta explained that the first hot cloud avalanche occurred at 16.09 WIB to the southwest.

"It was recorded on the seismogram with an amplitude of 12 mm and a maximum duration of 163 seconds," he said, quoted by Antara, Monday, December 6.

Furthermore, the second hot cloud was observed sliding at 16:44 WIB towards the Bebeng River, with a maximum amplitude of 14 mm, and a duration of 160 seconds.

Hot clouds from avalanches were again observed coming out of Mount Merapi at 17.24 WIB towards the Bebeng River with a maximum amplitude of 19 mm and a duration of 163 seconds.

Hanik said that when the hot clouds came out of Merapi, the wind on the mountain was recorded as blowing to the east.

According to him, the possibility of hot clouds falling will increase after the rain around the top of the mountain.

Based on BPPTKG data, the rain that has flushed the peak of Mount Merapi since 14.49 WIB is recorded to have a total rainfall of 25 mm.

"For this reason, the public must remain vigilant against the threat of lahars and hot clouds from falling," he said.

Based on reports from Merapi observations from 12.00 WIB to 18.00 WIB, said Hanik, BPPTKG also recorded nine lava avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 1,800 meters to the southwest. Until now, the status of the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi is at level III or Alert.

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

When an eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi is estimated to be able to reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.