Mount Merapi Launches Incandescent Lava Falls 11 Times Leading To The Southwest

Mount Merapi's incandescent lava avalanche can be seen from Turi, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Monday (13/3/2023)/VIA ANTARA

YOGYAKARTA - The Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) said Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta on Thursday, March 16 issued incandescent lava 11 times with a sliding distance of 1,200 meters. Head of BPPTKG Agus Budi Santoso explained, based on observations from 00.00 to 06.00 WIB, the incandescent lava avalanche slid to the southwest. "11 incandescent lava avalanches were observed with a sliding distance of 1,200 meters to the southwest," he said in an official statement received in Yogyakarta, Antara, Thursday afternoon. During the observation period, according to BPPTKG, Mount Merapi also experienced 16 avalanches with an amplitude of 4-35 mm for 24.4-166.8 seconds, seven times a multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 3-6 mm for 5 -7.6 seconds, one shallow volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 62 mm for 8.3 seconds, and a deep volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 6 mm for 11.7 seconds. Thick crater smoke above the peak of Merapi was observed during observations. During the observation period last Wednesday at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi recorded three times launching hot clouds of avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 1,300 meters to the southwest. In addition, lava avalanches were also observed 49 times with a sliding distance of 1,500 meters to the southwest. BPPTKG still maintains Alert status or Level III which was set since November 2020. The current potential danger is in the form of lava avalanches and hot clouds falling, namely in the Woro River as far as 3 km from the summit, Kali Gendol as far as 5 km from the summit. In addition, the potential danger is also in Kali Boyong as far as 5 km from the summit, as well as the Bedog River, Krasak, Bebeng as far as 7 km from the summit. Meanwhile, the ejection of volcanic material in the event of an explosive eruption can reach a radius of 3 km from the summit. BPPTKG also appealed to the public to be aware of the dangers of lahars in the river channel upstream of Merapi, especially when it rains at the top of the mountain.