Mount Merapi Launches Hot Cloud Falls 2 Times Up To 2.5 Km

Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java (ANTARA/HO)

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java launched two hot clouds on Friday afternoon, with a maximum sliding distance of 2.5 kilometers to the southwest.

Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Hanik Humaida explained that the first hot cloud fall was recorded at 13.29 WIB with a sliding distance of 2,500 meters to the southwest.

"It was recorded on the seismogram with an amplitude of 25 mm and a maximum duration of 223 seconds," he said through his official statement in Yogyakarta, Antara, Friday, January 7.

When hot clouds came out of Merapi, according to Hanik, the wind on the mountain was recorded as blowing to the east.

The hot cloud fall was again observed at 13:39 WIB with a sliding distance of 1,800 meters to the southwest, a maximum amplitude of 24 mm, and a duration of 154 seconds.

"It is observed that the column height is 150 meters from the peak, the sliding distance is 1,800 meters to the southwest," said Hanik.

In addition to hot cloud avalanches, Merapi was also recorded to emit 14 incandescent lava flows as far as 2,000 meters to the southwest and twice as far as 1,500 meters to the southwest during BPPTKG observations from 00.00 to 12.00 WIB.

Until now, BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert.

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.