Merapi Emits Three Lava Drops As Far As 400-500 Meters

Mount Merapi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Mount Merapi released three incandescent lava avalanches with a maximum glide distance of 400-500 meters on Wednesday, January 13.

This is based on the monitoring of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG). The monitoring was carried out at the border of Central Java Province and Yogyakarta Special Region.

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

"Three times the falling of incandescent lava was observed with a glide distance of 400-500 meters to the upper reaches of Kali Krasak," he said.

During this observation, the BPPTKG also noted the emergence of material avalanches with a sliding distance of 400-500 meters to the southwest.

The BPPTKG also recorded 46 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 4-25 mm for 15.8-117.9 seconds, two gust earthquakes with an amplitude of 5-10 mm for 15.8-25.7 seconds, 8 times a hybrid / multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 3-8 mm for 6.2 -8 seconds, and three shallow volcanic earthquakes with an amplitude of 38-75 mm for 12.2-26.9 seconds.

Based on visual observations, crater smoke is not observed coming out of the top of the crater.

The weather on the mountain was cloudy and cloudy. The wind is blowing weak to moderate to the east with air temperatures of 13-21 degrees Celsius, humidity 73-90 percent, air pressure 626-687 mmHg.

Previously, during the observation period on Tuesday, January 12 at 18.00-24.00 WIB, BPPTKG recorded two incandescent lava avalanches coming out of Mount Merapi with a maximum sliding distance of 400-500 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.