Mount Merapi Shows Signs of Potential Eruption
Mount Merapi, a volcano located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia is known as the most active volcano on this planet. The volcano has erupted regularly since 1548. The small eruptions occur every two or three years, while the large eruption is every 10 – 15 years.
Since last week, signs of activity have increased indicating that an eruption is imminent. This could be quite a common situation for the residents in this area, but a volcanic eruption is always scary. Materials erupt from the volcano such as magma, lava, ash or steam — all very high temperature substances that endanger everything and everyone around it.
To anticipate any eruption, the government has assigned a status of “alert Merapi," indicated that the area within 10 km (6 miles) from the hill is restricted. The residents within this zone were told to evacuate.
Mr. Surono, the Head Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation in Yogyakarta, said that the deformation of the peak trim has reached 42 cm per day. This condition indicates that the magma in the earth is approaching the peak and the eruption is getting near.
A view of the volcano can be seen from a picture from Poedji Zone.
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