Status Still On Standby, Mount Merapi Launches 23 Incandescent Lava Falls This Morning

Mount Merapi (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - 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 Friday, April 7, emitted incandescent lava 23 times with a sliding distance of 2,000 meters.

Head of BPPTKG Agus Budi Santoso in his official statement in Yogyakarta, explained that based on observations from 00.00 WIB to 06.00 WIB, the incandescent lava avalanche slid to the southwest or Bebeng River and Boyong River.

"Two incandescent lava avalanches were observed with a maximum sliding distance of 2,000 meters to the southwest (Kali Bebeng and Kali Boyong)," he said.

During the observation period, according to BPPTKG, Mount Merapi also experienced 48 avalanches with an amplitude of 3-63 mm for 25.5-165.7 seconds, two multi-phase earthquakes with an amplitude of 3 mm for 4.5-5.7 seconds, and one shallow volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 35 mm for 10.6 seconds.

The smoke from the weak pressure crater above the peak of Merapi was observed to be white with moderate intensity and 30-250 meters high above the crater peak.

During the observation period Thursday, April 6 at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi was recorded 14 times launching hot clouds of avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 1,600 meters towards the Bebeng River.

BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or Alert, which has been set since November 2020.

According to BPPTKG, Merapi's lava and hot clouds have the potential to slide to Woro River three kilometers from the summit, to Gendol River five kilometers from the summit, to Boyong River five kilometers from the summit, as well as to Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng Rivers up to seven kilometers from the summit.

If there is an explosive eruption, the eruption of Mount Merapi's volcanic material can reach an area within a radius of three kilometers from the summit.

BPPTKG also appealed to the public to be aware of the threat of lava hazards in the river channel that originates at Mount Merapi, especially when it rains at the top of the mountain.