Merapi Update, Incandescent Lava Falls Sliding 15 Times From Mount Merapi, Alert Status III

Illustration - Mount Merapi's incandescent lava is seen from Klangon Hill, Cangkringan, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta. (Intermediate Doc Photo)

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java launched 15 incandescent lava flows to the southeast and southwest on Sunday, July 25.

Head of the Center for Research and Development of Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG), Hanik Humaida, through his official statement in Yogyakarta, said the incandescent lava to the southwest slid 10 times with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters from 00.00 to 06.00 WIB.

Meanwhile, the lava to the southeast slid five times with a maximum distance of 1,000 meters. "The crater smoke was observed to be white with a thin intensity and 100 meters high above the crater peak", said Hanik as reported by Antara.

Potential dangers of the eruption of Mount Merapi as of June 25, 2021, 1. Lava and hot clouds fall in the Southeast–Southwest sector for a maximum of 3 km to the Woro river, and 5 km to the Gendol, Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and White. (Twitter @BPPTKG)

In addition to incandescent lava, Merapi experienced 25 avalanches with an amplitude of 4-26 millimeters (mm) for 28-102 seconds, two earthquake gusts with an amplitude of 4 millimeters (mm) for 11.9-13.8 seconds.

Next, 54 multi-phase earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-22 millimeters (mm) for 5.6-7.7 seconds and 13 shallow volcanic earthquakes with an amplitude of 55-75 millimeters (mm) for 8.7-13.2 seconds, and one distant tectonic earthquake with an amplitude of 8. millimeters (mm) for 61 seconds.

Meanwhile, for the observation period on Saturday, July 24 night, at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi recorded eight incandescent lava avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 1,200 meters to the southwest and six times to the southeast as far as 1,000 meters.

Mount Merapi on the border of DI. Yogyakarta and Central Java. (Twitter @BPPTKG)

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 south-southwest sector including the Yellow River, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih.

Meanwhile, if an eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.