Indonesia: Mount Merapi Erupts, Spews Lava

Jakarta – Merapi volcano on Indonesia’s Java island has begun to spew lava as smoke and ash bellowed 50 meters above its crater following the eruptions on Sunday, Indonesian officials reported.

According to a statement from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazar Mitigation, lava flowed from the volcano 36 times within a period of six hours, descending up to 1,500 meters down its southwestern slope.

Authorities currently are not planning to bring back residents who had been evacuated earlier amid previous volcanic activity, warning people not to venture within five kilometers of the volcano which is now under “orange” alert status.

In 2010, pouring lava from Merapi caused the loss of 347 lives. Mount Merapi it is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.