Merapi Developments

 

A strong eruption occurred at the volcano yesterday afternoon.

At around 12:54 local time, a large hot avalanche, known as pyroclastic flow, descended from the active lava dome at the summit crater.
The extremely dangerous, fast-moving turbulent flow consists of a mixture of hot rock fragments of the lava dome, volcanic gasses and ambient air. It traveled through the Kali Boyong ravine on the southern flank and reached the usual distance of about several hundred meters from the summit. It also produced massive grey ash-abundant plumes, so-called phoenix clouds, separating from the block-and-ash flow.
Pyroclastic flows are typically formed when the accumulated lava masses at the summit crater, known as the lava dome, become too large and suffer smaller or larger gravitational collapse, which then turn into fast and deadly avalanches as they destroy and burn everything in their path.
The alert status remains at Level 3 since 5 November 2020.
The public is being warned to stay at least 3 km away from the summit.