Indonesia: Volcano erupts, thousands evacuated.

CTV News reports that thousands of people have been evacuated after a series of volcanoes, including Merapi on the island of Java, Indonesia, erupted.

Area where Mount Merapi is erupting (red). Photo: Google Maps

Agus Budi Santoso, head of Indonesia's Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Agency, said the mixture of rocks and lava had traveled up to 2km down the slopes of Mount Merapi. Columns of ash up to 100m high covered several nearby villages, but fortunately caused no casualties.

Merapi (2,968m high) is the most active of more than 120 volcanoes across Indonesia. This eruption is the latest since authorities raised the alert level for the volcano to the second highest level in November 2020 after sensor data recorded increasing geological activity there.

Residents living on the mountain slopes are advised to stay at least 7km away from the crater and be aware of the threat from lava flows. Previously, an eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 claimed the lives of 347 people and displaced 20,000 villagers.

The Indonesian Center for Geological and Volcanic Disaster Mitigation reported that in addition to Mount Merapi, several other volcanoes erupted over the weekend, including Lewotobi Laki Laki in East Nusa Tenggara province, Marapi in West Sumatra province, Semeru in East Java province, and Ibu on Halmahera island in North Maluku province. Local authorities have evacuated thousands of residents as a precaution.

There have been no reports of damage following these latest eruptions.

MINH CHAU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/indonesia-nui-lua-phun-trao-hang-ngan-nguoi-so-tan-post723750.html