VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 9 - Mount Merapi, located between Central Java and Yogyakarta, ejected hot clouds as far as 700 meters to the southwest direction on Tuesday morning.

Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Hanik Humaida noted in her official statement here on Tuesday that the hot clouds began bellowing at 6 a.m. local time.

"The hot clouds recorded on the seismograph have an amplitude of 36 mm and lasted for 99.52 seconds," Humaida remarked.

During the observation period from 00:00 a.m. to 6 a.m. local time, Mount Merapi emitted incandescent lava 16 times as far as 1.2 kilometers to the southwest.

A total of 30 earthquakes, with an amplitude of 3-35 mm and a duration of 14-17 seconds, were also detected at the active volcano, and one gust earthquake, with an amplitude of 7 mm for 17 seconds.

The BPPTKG continues to maintain the status of Mount Merapi at Level III.

The lava and hot clouds of Mount Merapi are forecast to impact areas comprising Sungai Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih in the south to the southwest.

In the meantime, Mount Merapi's volcanic material could disperse as far three kilometers from the mountain's peak. (Antaranews)