Java volcano may erupt soon
mongabay.com
April 25, 2006
Residents living around Mount Merapi on the island of Java are preparing to flee if the volcano erupts, according to a report from Reuters.
The volcano, which has been spewing smoke for almost two weeks, has killed nearly 1,400 people in two eruptions since 1930. According to Reuters, government officials have advised residents to leave the foothills of the volcano, but have not made any official orders.
Vulcanologists say that the volcano could erupt by the end of April.
Mount Merapi is the youngest in a group of volcanoes in southern Java and has erupted at least 68 times since 1548. Accordingly, its name means “mountain of fire”. In the shadow of Mount Merapi, lies Borobudur, an ancient Buddhist temple complex that is popular tourist attraction.
Volcano outside Yogjakarta on the island of Java, Indonesia |
According to Wikipedia, in 1006 a very large eruption blanketed all of central Java with ash and may have been ultimately responsible for the collapse of the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram civilization. Shortly thereafter, Muslims became the rulers of Java.
