Meletusan Gunung Merapi

ALERT: GUNUNG MERAPI IS ERUPTING

Yogyakarta has certainly become an interesting place to live in recent weeks (not that it wasn't before). With the eruption of Mt. Merapi we have seen a different side to Yogya. One of panic, one of abandonment, communityy alliance, but possibly most inspiring of all one of pulling together to help those in need.

Mt. Merapi is the most active volcano in the world with smaller eruptions every 2-3 years and slightly bigger ones every ten to fifteen years. It is located approximately 28km north of Jogja but the effects of eruptions usually go unnoticed by the city. This year Yogyakarta was in for a treat with the biggest series of eruptions since the 1870s. In normal circumstances the eruption of Merapi would not even effect Jogja but unfortunate changes to wind direction and the sheer scale of the eruptions (the biggest eruptions saw heat clouds go as far as 10km into the air)resulted in Jogja being covered in ash.

On the weekend 23-24 November volcanologists raised the status of Merapi to the highest possible level indicating that an eruption was imminent and for everyone in surrounding areas to exercise extreme caution. The eruption was predicted to be large and people were no longer allowed to climb the mountain. On the 25th the first of the eruptions began. It has now been almost a month since Merapi began erupting and whilst the power of the eruptions has decreased Merapi may continue to erupt for weeks or months to come. At present the exclusion zone around the mountain remains at 20km from the peak in Sleman (where I live). My house is located ~27km from the mountain.

The eruption of Gunung Merapi has killed almost 180 people and displaced a further 350,000. At last check the Yogyakarta airport is still closed with it predicted to re-open on the 20th November. Activity is basically back to normal in Yogyakarta however, the effects are still being felt through out the community with thousands of refugees at various camps around Jogja and the remenants of ash on the ground and in buildings throughout the city.