Today Mount Merapi Launches Incandescent Lava Falls Twice

Mount Merapi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) said Mount Merapi, on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, emitted incandescent lava twice on Monday, August 23.

The incandescent lava fell with a maximum distance of 2,000 meters to the southwest based on the observation period from 00.00 to 06.00 western Indonesia time.

According to the Head of BPPTKG, Hanik Humaida, during the observation period Merapi also experienced 58 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-23 mm for 28-154 seconds, three earthquake gusts with an amplitude of 4-5 mm for 12-26 seconds, and one distant tectonic earthquake with an amplitude of 20 mm for 119 seconds.

"Smoke from the crater was not observed coming out of the top of the crater of Merapi during observations," said Hanik Humaida as quoted by Antara, Monday, August 23.

The weather on the mountain was cloudy. The wind is blowing moderately to the west with an air temperature of 13-21 degrees Celsius, humidity 76-79 percent, and air pressure 838-943 mmHg. Meanwhile, during the observation period on Sunday at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi was recorded 10 times launching incandescent lava with a maximum glide distance of 2,000 meters to the southwest.

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

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

In the event of an eruption, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach a radius of three km from the top of the mountain.