Mount Merapi launches 3 cascades of hot lava 1.5 kilometers away and experiences 27 earthquakes

TIME.CO, Yogyakarta – Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Yogyakarta reported Mount Merapi on the border between Central Java and the Yogyakarta special region on Friday, September 15, 2023, issued avalanches of incandescent lava three times with a sliding distance of 1,500 meters.

BPPTKG Yogyakarta head Agus Budi Santoso, in a statement in Yogyakarta on Friday, explained that based on observations made from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB, the incandescent lava avalanche moved towards the southwest or Kali Bebeng. “Three hot lava avalanches with a maximum flow distance of 1,500 meters were observed in the southwest (Bebeng River),” he said as quoted by Antara on Friday.

During the observation period, 27 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-11 mm for 42.6-110.8 seconds and 159 multiphase earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-8 mm for 4 seconds also occurred on Mount Merapi. .9-9.9 seconds.

The low-pressure crater smoke above the Merapi peak was observed to be white with bright intensity and a height of 50-200 meters above the crater peak.

During Thursday’s observation period at 18.00-24.00 WIB, Mount Merapi was also recorded 11 times launching hot lava avalanches with a maximum sliding distance of 2,000 meters towards the southwest.

He explained that based on the BPPTKG analysis for the period 1-7 September 2023, it was noted that the morphology of the southwest dome of Merapi has changed due to growth activity and lava avalanches, while they have not Significant changes were observed for the central dome.

Based on analysis of aerial photos from August 30, 2023, the volume of the southwest dome was measured at 2,858,600 cubic meters and that of the central dome at 2,355,100 cubic meters.

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In the southwest dome, Agus said, the highest hot spot was observed that reached 428 degrees Celsius, while in the central dome there was a hot spot on the eastern edge of the dome that reached 195 degrees Celsius. “The distribution of hot areas is slightly broader in the southwest dome (upstream of Kali Boyong) and overall there are no new magma extrusion points,” he said.

BPPTKG still maintains Mount Merapi’s status at Level III or Alert, established in November 2020.

The potential danger from falling lava and hot clouds could impact the Woro River up to three kilometers from the summit and the Gendol River up to five kilometers from the summit.

In addition to this, lava and hot clouds may impact the Boyong River up to five kilometers from the summit and the Bedog, Krasak and Bebeng Rivers up to seven kilometers from the summit.

If an explosive eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach an area within a three-kilometer radius of the mountain’s summit, according to Agus Budi Santoso.

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