Tourism and mining activities halted in Indonesia by volcano

A mixture of hot ash, rock, lava and gas from Mount Merapi on the island of Java descended 7 km down the slopes.

Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), said the column of hot clouds rose about 100 meters.

Due to the explosions that lasted throughout the day, the ashes were scattered throughout the surrounding towns, no victims were reported.

Residents living on the slopes of Merapi were advised to stay 7 kilometers from the crater mouth and be aware of the danger of lava, tourism and mining activities halted.

Around a quarter of a million people live around the 2,968 meter high mountain.

Merapi, the country’s most active volcano, recently erupted repeatedly with clouds of lava and gas. In its last major eruption in 2010, 347 people died and 20 were displaced.

In the volcanic eruption of Semeru Volcano on December 4, 2021, 51 people died.

In the seismic and volcanic belt of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, Indonesia has about 130 active volcanoes. (AA)