Mount Merapi Launches 6 Hot Clouds, Falls Reaches 1,500 Meters

Mount Merapi. (Antaranews)

YOGYAKARTA - Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) reported that Mount Merapi experienced six lava flows during the observation period on Sunday, August 7, at 00.00-24.00 WIB.

The sliding distance of the mountain avalanches bordering the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java reaches 1,500 meters to the southwest.

"There were two avalanches," said the Head of BPPTKG, Agus Budi Santoso in a written statement, Monday, August 8.

During the same observation period, Mount Merapi also experienced 129 avalanches and one volcanic earthquake.

"Mount Merapi also experienced 152 multi-phase earthquakes and 35 gusts of earthquakes," he said.

The deformation or changes in Merapi's body shape monitored by BPPTKG using electronic distance measurement (EDM) on 7 August 2022 showed an average distance shortening rate of 0.2 cm in three days.

Meanwhile, Agus continued, based on the results of morphological analysis in the period 22-28 July 2022, the growth of the southwest dome and lava dome was observed.

The volume of the southwest lava dome was recorded at 1,672,000 cubic meters and the central dome at 2,796,000 cubic meters.

It rained at the Mount Merapi Observation Post with a rainfall intensity of 0.11 mm per hour for 60 minutes at the Kaliurang Post on 22 and 23 July 2022.

"There are no reports of lava floods (rain) or additional flows in rivers that head to Mount Merapi," said Agus Budi.

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

Lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas in the south-southwest sector which include the Boyong River (a maximum of five kilometers) and the Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng Rivers (a maximum of seven kilometers).

In addition, lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas in the southeastern sector which include the Woro River (a maximum of three kilometers) and the Gendol River (a distance of five kilometers).

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.