Rain Could Trigger Mudslides on Merapi: Central Java, Indonesia

Now there is an extra fear from the volatile Gunung Merapi in Central Java besides the possibility of a massive eruption. The mountain has sent avalanches of hot gas and debris down its scorched slopes since the earthquake recently in Yogyakarta. The new threat is from mudslides.

A possible threat is posed by the rain forecast for coming days which could wash millions of metric tons of built-up ash and rock fragments down Merapi's slopes in powerful mudslides. More than half a dozen avalanches on Wednesday morning carried gas and volcanic debris 3.5 kilometres down the peak's flanks and even though government has ordered the evacuation of all residents living within seven kilometres of the peak, it cannot force them to leave or prevent villagers from returning to check their houses and crops. Hundreds have refused to go.

According to a Sleman regency spokesperson, Ibnu Subiyanto, "In Kaliadem there are more than three million cubic meters of volcanic materials. If it rains they might turn into cold lava that could flow down into thousands of houses below".

Thousands of houses in three hamlets in Cangkringan district in Sleman could be threatened by the mudslides of cold lava coming from some three million cubic meters of volcanic debris piling up near the Kaliadem tourist area and along riverbanks. One of the ways to block the cold lava is by digging trenches to accommodate the lava and prevent it from reaching residential areas. The administration plans to involve the volcanology center in Yogyakarta, the central government and related experts in coming up with preventive measures to deal with the possible flow of cold lava.

It is a real threat and on my journeys up and around the mountain I have seen the damage caused by cold lava in previous years. This new threat to the people of Yogyakarta and indeed those living on Merapi's slopes will surely test them, unfortunately.