Mount Merapi — one of the most active volcanoes in the world — this morning emitted a thick cloud of smoke that officials say is the result of phreatic eruption (the result of magma heating up ground or surface water).
The volcano, located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, spewed a plume of smoke at around 7:40 am today.
#GlobalNews Pagi ini tepatnya jam 07.40 WIB telah terjadi ledakan freatik dari Gunung Merapi. Letusan freatik merupakan erupsi yang didominasi uap air, disebabkan adanya kontak air dgn panas di bawah kawah Gunung Merapi. Doakan semoga ga ada korban ya, Global Listeners pic.twitter.com/vwoEfbYVER
— 88.4 Okezone Radio Jakarta (@884OkezoneRadio) May 11, 2018
According to a press release by the Central Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the smoke, which measured around 5,500 meters in height, was emitted following around 5 minutes of volcanic rumbling.
https://www.facebook.com/BPBDJATENG/posts/1379387508829570
The BPBD has sent teams of officials to assist in evacuating civilians living within a 5 km radius of the volcano.
“The public is urged to remain calm,” said BPBD Magelang Operations Control Center officer Kristian, as quoted by Kompas.
There is no data yet on the number of evacuees, and, due to the nature of eruption, there have thankfully been no reports of any casualties. BPBD also reported that 120 people who were hiking on the mountain over the past couple of days have been successfully evacuated.
Officials say the smoke is being blown south west from the crater resulting in volcanic ash rain in Kaliurang, Central Java.
The volcanic smoke has not disrupted flights in the area, with Yogyakarta’s Adisutjipto Airport reportedly maintaining normal services.
