Mount Merapi Spills Incandescent Lava Drops 19 Times As Far As 600 Meters

Mount Merapi emits incandescent lava (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) said that Mount Merapi at the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta issued 19 incandescent lava avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 600 meters on Monday, January 10.

The head of BPPTKG Hanik Humaida, through a written statement, explained that the incandescent lava avalanche was observed during the observation period Monday at 00.00-06.00 WIB sliding towards the upper reaches of Kali Krasak.

"Incandescent lava fall was observed at 19 times the maximum glide distance of 600 meters in the upstream direction of the Krasak river," he said.

During this observation, the BPPTKG also recorded 42 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-21 mm for 10-69 seconds, seven gust earthquakes with an amplitude of 2-3 mm for 9-17 seconds, 46 times a hybrid / multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 2- 27 mm for 5-10 seconds, and seven shallow volcanic earthquakes with an amplitude of 31-68 mm for 10-20 seconds.

Based on visual observations, the crater smoke is observed to be white with a thick intensity and a height of 400 meters above the crater peak.

The weather on the mountain was sunny, cloudy, cloudy. The wind blows weakly to the east with temperatures 16-21 degrees Celsius, humidity 75-95 percent, air pressure 566-685 mmHg.

Previously, during the observation period on Sunday, January 10 at 18.00-24.00 WIB, BPPTKG recorded 26 incandescent lava avalanches coming out of Mount Merapi with a maximum sliding distance of 900 meters towards Kali Krasak.

The BPPTKG maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert. The potential hazard due to the eruption of Merapi is estimated to be within a maximum radius of five kilometers from the summit.

Mining in the rivers whose water reaches Mount Merapi in KRB III is recommended to be stopped.

BPPTKG asks tourism actors not to carry out tourism activities at KRB III, including climbing to the top of Mount Merapi.