Indonesia’s most active volcano has erupted again. More than 250 people flee the deadly glowing clouds on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Mount Merapi volcano on the Indonesian island of Java erupted on Thursday night, forcing more than 250 people to flee.
A mixture of hot lava, ash and gases was pouring down the mountain’s southeastern slope, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the national disaster relief agency. In addition, a rain of ash fell on several villages. More than 250 residents had to get to safety. An exclusion zone has been set up around the volcano in a five-kilometer radius.
The more than 2900 meter high Merapi is a so-called stratovolcano. When an eruption occurs, a mixture of dust, rock, lava and hot gas often flows down the valleys. The chances of escaping these rapidly flowing clouds of embers are slim. The deadly currents can rush for miles down the valley before they come to a halt.
Mount Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia. It is about 35 kilometers north of the city of Yogyakarta. A severe eruption in 2010 killed more than 340 people and tens of thousands fled.
