Moment of terror Indonesia’s Mount Merapi erupts shooting a giant ash cloud into the sky as all mining and tourism operations shut down
- Volcanic eruption in Java, Indonesia
- Authorities close tourism, mining
- Mount Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi erupted in spectacular fashion, spewing a giant ash cloud into the sky and shutting down all mining and tourism.
The dramatic eruption on Saturday sent avalanches of lava and clouds of boiling gas seven kilometers down the slopes of the mountain, prompting urgent lockdown orders.
The eruption sent hot clouds 100 meters into the air and spewed ash blocked the sun and covered villages with rubble.
Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia and is located on the densely populated island of Java.
With more than 151.6 million inhabitants, Java is considered the most populous island in the world.
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi erupted in spectacular fashion, spewing a giant ash cloud into the sky and shutting down all mining and tourism.
The eruption sent hot clouds 100 meters into the air and spewed ash blocked the sun and covered villages with rubble.
Around 250,000 people live within a 10km radius of the crater and were told to stay at least 7km away.
People living on the slopes of Merapi were told to stay 7 kilometers from the crater to be aware of the enormous dangers posed by lava flows.
Approximately a quarter of a million people live within a 10 kilometer radius of the 2968 meter mountain.
Merapi is the most active of Indonesia’s 120 active volcanoes, recently erupting repeatedly with lava and dangerous gas clouds.
Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and left 20,000 villagers homeless.
The latest eruption is understood to be the largest lava flow from Merapi since the alert level for the peak was raised in November 2020.
No casualties have yet been reported.
