Mount Merapi, an active volcano in Indonesia has erupted 2 times in less than a month.
Merapi is a 2,930-meter stratovolcano located north of Yogyakarta city in Java Island, Indonesia. It is situated on the subduction zone between the Eurasian and the Indo-Australian plates and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region in the Pacific Ocean known for its intense earthquakes and the existence of numerous active volcanoes.
Mount Merapi is the most active out of the 129 volcanoes in the country as it erupts once or twice in a decade on average. In fact, Merapi in old Javanese means "the one making fire". The region around the volcano is densely populated as it consists of fertile soil where people can harvest large crops.
The volcano's last eruption occurred in 2010 and was the most powerful in 70 years. The ramifications of the eruption were devastating as more than 340 people were reported dead, numerous were injured and around 280,000 residences were evacuated. The established centers to accommodate people affected were overcrowded and sanitation-health issues emerged. Another powerful explosion killed more than 64 people back in 1994.
Mount Merapi exploded on March 3 and again on March 27, 2020. The first eruption sent plumes of volcanic ash in the air that affected the wider area filling the atmosphere with dust. Officials isolated a 3-kilometer area around the volcano which was deemed hazardous for people due to lava flows and other volcanic products. Moreover, the Surakarta airport, located around 40 kilometers away from Mount Merapi, was temporarily closed and 4 flights were canceled. Nevertheless, locals were not highly affected by the eruptions and continued their daily occupations normally. "Residents are monitoring the situation, although they are going about their daily activities as per normal," a local, stated.
The second eruption lasted for about 7 minutes and sent ash at 5,000 meters in the air. A 20-kilometer radius area was impacted. In addition, pyroclastic flows advanced for two kilometers to the south of the mountain. Fortunately, there are no reports of infrastructure damage or casualties. "There have been no reports of damage from the eruption. We urge people to stay calm and not panic, "Agus Wibowo, a spokesman for the Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency, stated.
Click the videos below to watch moments of the 2 volcanic eruptions recorded on camera.
Sources: DW, Guardian, AFP, RT
Numerous people have been evacuated from regions near Mount Merapi in Indonesia after fears of a po...
In 1980, the explosion of Mount St. Helens in the state of Washington, United States, triggered the...
Mount Semeru in Indonesia erupted spewing ash and smoke into the air. Mount Semeru is a stratovolca...
A new island is being formed in the Pacific Ocean as a result of volcanic eruption. The volcanic act...
At least 32 people were reported dead and numerous have been evacuated due to a volcanic eruption i...
According to seismologists, the Taal volcanο in the Philippines may erupt any time soon. The volcan...
At least 5 people were reported dead after a volcano erupted in New Zealand's White Island on Monda...
Stromboli volcano, located in southern Italy, has erupted for the 2nd time in 2 months. Three activ...
Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy has erupted for the second time in less than 2,5 months. Mount Etna is...