Indonesia raises threat level for Mount Merapi volcano
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Topics: INDONESIA
a’s geological agency raised Merapi’s alert level, which had been at the third highest level since it began erupting last year, to the second highest level after sensors picked up increasing activity.
“This condition can trigger a magma extrusion process or an explosive eruption,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Raditya Jati said in a statement.
He said authorities have halted the climbing of Merapi and mining activities along its rivers. Only disaster agency personnel and researchers will be allowed to enter the restricted area.
About a quarter million people live within a 10 kilometer radius of the volcano, according to authorities in surrounding districts. ■