Mount Merapi erupted in Indonesia: Ashes spread up to 5000 m which urged an immediate airport shutdown
The country's most powerful volcano has spread ash 5,000 meters into the air, urging officials to inform residents to "stay calm and not panic." It's the second incident in the June month that Mount Merapi has exploded.
Indonesia's Mount Merapi, located in central Java, exploded on Friday, spreading a huge cloud of ash some 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) into the air. The eruption persisted almost 7 minutes, the Geological Disaster Research and Development Centre announced on its website.
Despite the tremendous eruption, residents were instructed to stay and not to panic. Authorities did not raise Merapi's warning from its current third-highest level. "Stay alert! Local residents are advised to remain calm and go about their activities as usual, but stay alert for volcanic ash," the agency announced.
This is the second time that Merapi, Indonesia's most active volcano, has exploded in the June month. The first eruption was somewhat larger and a massive ash and sand cloud from the explosion covered Yogyakarta and neighboring city Solo with grey dust and made an airport shutdown.
The mountain's last extreme explosion was in 2010. More than 300 people were killed and 280,000 residents had to be vacated. Indonesia remains on the so-called "ring of fire" where the collision of the Earth's tectonic plates creates frequent earthquakes and extreme volcanic activity. Indonesia has approximately 130 active volcanoes alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment