Mount Merapi Launches Hot Clouds Fall 3.5 Km To Upstream Gendol River

Illustration-Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java (Via ANTARA)

YOGYAKARTA - Mount Merapi on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java several times launched hot clouds of avalanches up to 3.5 km to the southeast or upstream of Kali Gendol on Sunday, March 20.

Head of the Center for Research and Development of Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG) Hanik Humaida said that the volcano launched hot clouds of avalanches at 14.14, 14.16, 14.22 and 14.26 WIB.

"The avalanche hot clouds that occurred during that period were recorded on the seismogram, having a maximum amplitude of 31 and a maximum duration of 357 seconds," he said as quoted by Antara, Sunday, March 20 night.

At 16.45 WIB, according to BPPTKG, Merapi again launched hot clouds of avalanches with a maximum glide distance of 1.8 kilometers to the southwest. The hot cloud glide lasts 147 seconds and has a maximum amplitude of 25 mm.

In addition, the BPPTKG during the observation period from 12.00 to 18.00 WIB recorded five avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 25 to 31 mm for 145.9 to 358.6 seconds, and 15 earthquake avalanches with an amplitude of 5 to 12 mm for 41 to 161 seconds. , and one multiphase earthquake with an amplitude of 20 mm for 10.7 seconds. Until now BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert.

Lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas within the south-southwest sector which include the Boyong River (a maximum of five km) and the Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng Rivers (a maximum of seven km).

In addition, lava flows and hot clouds from Mount Merapi can impact areas in the southeastern sector which include the Woro River (a maximum of three km) and the Gendol River (a distance of five km).

If the volcano experiences an explosive eruption, then the ejection of volcanic material can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.