Powerful explosion at Merapi volcano, Red aviation alert, airport closed
A powerful phreatic explosion took place and Indonesia's Merapi volcano at 00:30 UTC (07:30 local time) on May 11, 2018. The volcano ejected ash high into the sky, closing a major airport and forcing authorities to issue temporary evacuation orders for all residents living within 5 km (3 miles) of the crater. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red.
According to the Darwin VAAC, a high-level eruption of Merapi volcano sent ash up to 15 km (50 000 feet). Volcanic ash to 6.7 km (22 000 feet) and 12.2 km (40 000 feet) has now become detached from the volcano and continue moving SW and SE, respectively. Subsequently, ash at these heights is gradually dissipating. Minor emission to 3.6 km (12 000 feet) is expected to be continuing, the center said 05:30 UTC.
"Volcanic ash rain has occurred in Tugu Kaliurang of Sleman district of Yogyakarta and is forecast to persist in the south of the crater," spokesman of national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said, adding that local officials have distributed masks to prevent respiratory problems.
"Local disaster agency has instructed the villagers living in the radius of 5 km (3.1 miles) from the crater to evacuate to barrack set up for evacuees and the people have responded," Sutopo told Xinhua.
The airport in Yogyakarta, the nearest big city to the volcano, was closed because of the threat from the ash, the state-owned aviation agency AirNav said.
A 3 km (1.8 miles) no-go zone has been declared by the volcanology agency.
Sutopo told reporters that 120 people who had been hiking up Merapi are safe.
At 07:00 UTC, Sutopo said there was only one eruption today, adding that volcanic activity of Mount Merapi remains normal (level 1). "There is no need for evacuation," he said in a tweet.
Erupsi freatik gunungapi dapat terjadi tiba-tiba. Sulit dideteksi. Pascaerupsi Gunung Merapi tahun 2010 lalu hingga hingga saat ini status tetap Normal. Tidak ada indikasi peningkatan aktivitas vulkanik. Masyarakat sekitar Gunung Merapi juga lebih siap menghdapi erupsi. pic.twitter.com/tYAQenXDBn
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Letusan freatik Gunung Merapi tidak disertai dengan luncuran awan panas. Letusan freatik hanya melontarkan abu vulkanik, pasir dan material piroklastik ke atas. Tidak ada yang menyamping. Awan panas terjadi jika letusan tipe magmatik. Masyarakat dihimbau tetap tenang. pic.twitter.com/fg5ClIwGND
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Inilah perbedaan dampak erupsi Gunung Kelud dan Gunung Merapi. Perangi hoax. Cari informasi dari sumber resmi dan terkini. pic.twitter.com/3obVBhGPtt
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Inilah kondisi kawah Gunung Merapi pascaerupsi freatik pada 11/5/2018 pagi. Erupsi hanya sekali dan sesaat. Tidak ada erupsi susulan. Aktivitas vulkanik Gunung Merapi tetap normal. Status Normal (level I). Tidak perlu ada pengungsian. pic.twitter.com/CuiB2ge7vw
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Sekitar 160 orang pendaki saat berada di bawah puncak kawah Gunung Merapi saat terjadi erupsi. Saat ini semua pendaki dievakuasi. Tidak ada korban jiwa. Jalur pendakian Gunung Merapi ditutup untuk sementara waktu. pic.twitter.com/SdyIK56Tkj
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Hujan abu tipis terjadi di beberapa tempat di Kabupaten Sleman, Kulonprogo dan Kota Yogyakarta. Ribuan masker telah dibagikan kepada masyarakat. Tidak ada korban jiwa. Ingat abu vulkanik juga berkah yang menyebabkan tanah menjadi subur. pic.twitter.com/hsPbd6WQZR
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Obyek wisata di Kawasan Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi ditutup untuk sementara waktu. Harap ditaati. pic.twitter.com/9Ztorz7Ni9
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Sebaran abu vulkani Gunung Merapi. Bandara Adisucipto sudah normal kembali sejak pukul 14.17 Wib. pic.twitter.com/5L6MmrcUT9
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Sebaran hujan abu Gunung Merapi. Abu dominan tersebar di bagian selatan dari Gunung Merapi. Tebal abu tipis hingg sedang. BPBD telah membagikan ribuan masker kepada masyarakat. Tidak ada korban jiwa. pic.twitter.com/XHI9PbadO1
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Inilah erupsi freatik Gunung Merapi yang didokumentasikan oleh para pendaki di Pasar Bubrah berjarak 1 km dari puncak kawah. Saat ini 166 orang pendaki telah turun. Semua dalam kondisi selamat. Tidak ada korban jiwa. pic.twitter.com/VwR7qi6Roi
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) May 11, 2018
Thousands of people are living on the flanks of Mount Merapi, active stratovolcano regularly erupting since 1948. It is located about 28 km (17 miles) north of Yogyakarta city (population of 2.4 million).
In November 1994, a large explosion at the volcano produced pyroclastic flows that killed 27 people.
A series of eruptions in 2010 killed 353 people. Over 350 000 were evacuated.
Geological summary
Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, lies in one of the world's most densely populated areas and dominates the landscape immediately north of the major city of Yogyakarta. It is the youngest and southernmost of a volcanic chain extending NNW to Ungaran volcano. Growth of Old Merapi during the Pleistocene ended with major edifice collapse perhaps about 2000 years ago, leaving a large arcuate scarp cutting the eroded older Batulawang volcano.
Subsequently growth of the steep-sided Young Merapi edifice, its upper part unvegetated due to frequent eruptive activity, began SW of the earlier collapse scarp. Pyroclastic flows and lahars accompanying growth and collapse of the steep-sided active summit lava dome have devastated cultivated lands on the western-to-southern flanks and caused many fatalities during historical time.
Featured image: Eruption of Mount Merapi, Indonesia on May 11, 2018. Credit: Sutopo Purwo Nugroho
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