The year 2010 will be remembered as the year of the volcano. After the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll last April brought European air traffic to a halt, the latest eruption in Central Java is threatening to have a similar effect.
The Indonesian island of Java, a popular tourist destination with spectacular mountain scenery, has suffered a steady stream of eruptions from its volcano Mount Merapi (literally Mountain of Fire).
On October 23, lava from Merapi began flowing down the Gendol River signalling the likelihood of an imminent eruption.
After yesterday’s (November 2) latest eruption, authorities immediately extended the evacuation area around the volcano from 10 to 15 km.
Approximately 70,000 people have been evacuated to temporary centers near the city of Yogyakarta, located 25 km from Merapi.
The volcano erupts every four or five years, a very quick cycle for a volcano. Nearly 70 eruptions have been recorded since the mid-sixteenth century.