Hanoi (VNA) - Indonesian authorities have bannedresidents and trekkers from doing activities within 3km from the summit ofMount Merapi, as the volcano located between Central Java and Yogyakartaprovinces spewed hot lava on August 14.
Spokesperson of Indonesia's National Disaster ManagementAgency Agus Wibowo said Mount Merapi spewed the hot lava as far as 950m within90 seconds, heading to upstream of Gendol river in the two provinces' borderarea.
Emergency status of the volcano was set at Level 2 from thetop alert of Level 4.
Residents are strongly advised to remain vigilant over theescalating activities of the volcano, except for research and mitigationactivities.
The Mount Merapi eruption that ensued from October toNovember 2010 killed 353 people, forcing the authorities to evacuate over350,000 residents in the affected areas.
Indonesia, one ofthe most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the Pacific "Ring ofFire", where tectonic plates collide and a large portion of the world’svolcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
Last year, it washit by 11,577 earthquakes, leaving many people dead and homeless.-VNA
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