Mount Merapi Is Again Turbulent, Hot Clouds And Lava Falls Launched Five Times Today, Standby Status

Hot clouds and avalanches of other volcanic material are seen coming out of Mount Merapi. (Intermediate Photo)

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, which has the status of level III or on standby again, launched hot clouds of avalanches five times with a sliding distance of 1,100 meters to 3,000 meters to the southwest on Sunday, August 8th.

Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG), Hanik Humaida through his official statement in Yogyakarta, Sunday, August 8, said the first hot cloud avalanche occurred at 02.32 WIB with a sliding distance of approximately 1,100 meters to the southwest. "The hot avalanche cloud was recorded on the seismogram with an amplitude of 36 mm and a duration of 104 seconds," he said.

Avalanche hot clouds were observed again at 04.20 WIB with a sliding distance of 2,000 meters to the southwest, a maximum amplitude of 35 meters, and a duration of 180 seconds.

At 4:58 a.m., the third hot cloud slid about 3,000 meters to the southwest with an amplitude of 20 mm and a duration of 222 seconds.

Mount Merapi again shows its activities. (Intermediate Photo)

The fourth hot cloud avalanche occurred at 07.29 WIB with a sliding distance of 1,800 meters. It was recorded on the seismogram with an amplitude of 47 mm and a duration of 161 seconds. "The smoke column was observed as high as 800 meters above the peak, leaning to the west," said Hanik.

Next, the fifth hot cloud glided at 7.46 WIB which was recorded with an amplitude of 38 mm and a duration of 77 seconds. The observed glide distance is 1,000 meters to the southwest.

Until now, BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at level III or standby.

Mount Merapi on the border of DI. Yogyakarta and Central Java. (BMKG photo)

The lava fall and hot clouds of Mount Merapi are expected to have an impact on the south-southwest sector, which includes the Yellow, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih rivers.

When an eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi is estimated to be able to reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the summit of Mount Merapi.