Violently erupting, Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano has caused panic and showered ash over a distance of more than 12 km.
Residents living in proximity to the volcano in Central Java Province reported that this morning’s explosion was both louder and stronger than the eruptions that resulted in 34 fatalities on Tuesday.
Nearby soldiers and police were observed fleeing alongside hundreds of individuals, causing roads to become congested with cars and motorcycles as thick soot blanketed a wide area.
“My neighbours advised me to evacuate, and my village is entirely deserted…everyone has left,” stated Mukinem, a 42-year-old local, as she rode away from the volcano on a motorcycle with her husband and two young children.
“I heard sounds resembling thunder; I was so frightened that I was trembling.”
A Hargobinangun resident noted that the current eruption was more than twice as powerful as the one experienced on Tuesday.
Government volcanologists were not available immediately to verify the intensity of this new activity.
At least two individuals were admitted to a hospital with burn injuries.
Standing at 2,914 meters, Mount Merapi, translating to ‘mountain of fire’, is recognized as the most active among Indonesia’s 69 volcanoes noted for historical eruptions.
Over 50,000 individuals are currently residing in cramped temporary shelters near Yogyakarta in Central Java, having been ordered to evacuate on Monday.
Authorities have indicated that many have returned to tend to their livestock and inspect their property. The exact number of individuals present on the mountain during the eruption remains unknown.
