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Documentation—Mount Merapi belches incandescent lava, as seen from Turi, Sleman, Yogyakarta on April 25, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTO/Hendra Nurdiyansyah/wsj/KT) - 

While they have continued to grow, the volume of Mount Merapi's lava domes is still within the moderate limit, the Geological Disaster Technology, Research, and Development Center (BPPTKG) has informed.

So far, the lava domes of Mount Merapi have not shown significant growth, BPPTKG head Hanik Humaida observed in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

"The volume of the southwest dome as of December 24, 2021, amounted to 1.65 million cubic meters. For Mount Merapi, that volume is not considered huge, it is still natural," he said.

A group from the BPPTKG-PVMBG-geological agency is capturing images at all times and analyzing the morphology of two new lava domes (southwestern dome and central dome) as well as the old lava dome located around the new domes, he informed. 

In addition to the morphology aspect, BPPTKG is also measuring the volume of the domes, he added.

According to Humaida, the results of the analyses of the lava domes have routinely been conveyed by BPPTKG to all stakeholders and the public, including through the weekly activities report.

Hazard recommendations have also been set since January 2021 based on the scenario of the domes collapsing, he highlighted.

Until now, BPPTKG has maintained the status of Mount Merapi at Level III or alert.

The issuing of lava and hot clouds from Mount Merapi is expected to impact regions in the southeast-southwest sector located in up to a 3-km radius around the Woro River and a 5-km radius around the rivers of Gendol, Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih, Humaid said.

According to him, if the volcano erupts explosively, volcanic material issuing from it could reach areas within a radius of three kilometers from the top of the mountain.

"To date, there has been no significant change in the parameters of Mount Merapi. Nevertheless, of course, we still have to improve preparedness to face it (any emergency)," Humaida affirmed//ANT