Mount Merapi Experienced 77 Earthquakes Falls

The glide of incandescent lava out of the crater of Mount Merapi can be seen from Srumbung, Magelang, Central Java, Wednesday (4/5/2022)/BETWEEN PHOTOS/Hendra Nurdiyansyah

YOGYAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) stated that Mount Merapi on the border of DI Yogyakarta and Central Java experienced 77 avalanches during the observation period on Sunday (15/5) at 00.00-24.00 WIB.

Reported by Antara, Monday, May 16, Head of BPPTKG Hanik Humaida said that apart from avalanche earthquakes, during the observation period, 34 hybrid or multiple-phase earthquakes were recorded, four gusts earthquakes, and 16 shallow volcanic earthquakes.

Based on visual observations, it appears that low-pressure white smoke is coming out of Mount Merapi with moderate to thick intensity with a height of about 200 meters above the peak.

During the observation period, 13 incandescent lava avalanches were recorded from the mountain with a maximum sliding distance of 1.8 km to the southwest.

The deformation or changes in the shape of Merapi's body, which was monitored by BPPTKG using electronic distance measurement (EDM) on 15 May 2022, showed an average distance shortening rate of 0.5 cm in three days.

Meanwhile, based on observations on Monday (16/5) at 00.00 to 18.00 WIB, Mount Merapi was recorded to emit incandescent lava seven times as far as 1,200 to 1,800 to the southwest.

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 in the south-southwest sector which include the Boyong River (a maximum of five kilometers) and the Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng rivers (a maximum of seven kilometers).

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 kilometers) and the Gendol River (a distance of five kilometers).

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.