On Sunday, Mount Merapi in Indonesia erupted, releasing hot gas and causing lava to flow down its sides. This event coincided with other active volcanoes erupting in the country, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of people.

On the densely populated island of Java, Merapi unleashed clouds of hot ash and a mixture of rock, and lava that traveled up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) down its slopes, said Agus Budi Santoso, the head of Indonesia’s Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center. A column of hot clouds blasted 100 meters (about 109 yards) into the air as ash blanketed several villages without casualties, he added.

Merapi is the most active out of more than 120 volcanoes across the country. Sunday’s eruption is the latest since authorities raised its alert level to the second-highest in November 2020 after sensors picked up increasing activity. Residents living on the slopes were advised to stay 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away from the crater’s mouth and be aware of possible threats from flowing lava.

In 2010, a volcanic eruption caused the death of 347 individuals and forced 20,000 villagers to leave their homes.

The mountain, standing at 2,968 meters (9,737 feet), is located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from Yogyakarta, a historical hub of Javanese traditions and home to royal lineages spanning centuries. The volcano is surrounded by a population of roughly 250,000 individuals residing within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius.

According to a statement released on X, previously known as Twitter, by Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, multiple active volcanoes erupted over the weekend. This led to the evacuation of thousands of residents, but no injuries were reported.

The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted on Sunday, sending hot clouds up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) high. As a result, over 6,500 individuals sought shelter.

On Sunday, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province had another eruption, its third largest one this month. However, there was no lava discharge. Approximately 500 nearby residents were evacuated. In the previous month, it erupted and resulted in the death of 23 climbers with several others being injured.

On Saturday, Mount Semeru in East Java province emitted hot gas clouds and streams of molten rock, while Mount Ibu on Halmahera island in North Maluku province erupted a column of hot ashes reaching a height of 1,300 meters (4,265 feet).

In December of 2021, an eruption of Mount Semeru, the tallest volcano on Java island, resulted in the loss of 48 lives and 36 individuals still unaccounted for.

Indonesia is a collection of islands with a population of 270 million. It experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” a curved network of fault lines surrounding the Pacific Ocean.

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Niniek Karmini, a writer for the Associated Press in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

Source: wral.com