Posted on 04/27/2006 6:46:32 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia's rumbling Mount Merapi is spewing volcanic ash, magma has fully covered its crater, and a powerful eruption could come any day, a scientist said Thursday.
Authorities said, however, they were not ready to raise the alert to the highest level, which requires immediate evacuation of villagers living on the slopes of the 9,700-foot peak.
The mountain, one of the most active in Indonesia, is still in phase two, they said.
"It's close to eruption," said Dewi Sri, a vulcanologist at a monitoring post near Merapi's peak.
"The crater is fully covered by magma," she said, predicting "an enormous and dreadful eruption" within days.
Indonesia's official Antara news agency, meanwhile, reported that volcanic debris has begun pouring into Ngargomulyo village in the nearby Central Java district of Magelang.
Local officials contacted by The Associated Press were still trying to confirm the reports.
Merapi is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" — a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.
It last erupted in 1994, sending out a searing cloud of gas that burned 60 people to death. About 1,300 people were killed when it erupted in 1930.
Mount Merapi is seen spewing smoke from its crater in this photo taken from Bebeng village in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 27, 2006. Hundreds of people have evacuated from areas closest to the volcano, following days of pressure from officials who warned the volcano could erupt within the next two weeks. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
A motorist rides past Mount Merapi, background, in Kaliurang near Yogyakarta, central Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 25, 2006. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from areas closest to Merapi, following days of pressure from officials who warned the rumbling volcano could erupt anytime. (AP Photo/Purwowiyoto)
isn't magma inside a volcano? If there is lava in the crater wouldn't the volcano be currently erupting?
This could be the end of manbearpig.
Lets see... earthquake, tsunami, volcano, anyone want to venture a guess at which form of pestilence will be next?
This could be the end of human civilization. I suggest that everybody balance their checkbooks, get their bills paid and put on some clean underwear. It's been a pretty good life for most of us but all good things must come to an end.
(If you didn't watch South Park last night, and Al Gore's attempt to be taken cereally about the global threat of manbearpig, none of this will make much sense)
"Lets see... earthquake, tsunami, volcano, anyone want to venture a guess at which form of pestilence will be next?"
It's not time yet, Hillary still hasn't declared herself a candidate.
Bush's fault.
(am I first?)
He just talks about manbearpig because no one pays him any attention.
And he has no friends.
"This could be the end of manbearpig."
Maybe we could send Al to search the crater.
Well, Rove is actually causing it by testing out the improved Earthquake Machine Mark-II with Volcano Initiator but of course that is because Bush ordered him to in order to help Haliburton.
Could be very series.
RUN YOU IDIOTS!! LOL
Authorities, however, were not ready to raise the alert to the highest level, which requires immediate evacuation of villagers living on the slopes of the 9,700-foot peak.
WTF?
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