[NormsRevenge]

Lava flows from Indonesia's Merapi volcano Saturday May 13, 2006 as seen from Bebung village about 20 km (12 miles) outside Yogyakarta, the provincial capital of Central Java province Indonesia. Officials raised the alert status of the Merapi volcano to the highest level, meaning that an eruption is imminent, and thousands began evacuating from its slopes. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)

Indonesia's Merapi volcano throws up lava and hot gasses Saturday May 13, 2006, as seen from Bebung village about 20 km (12 miles) outside Yogyakarta, the provincial capital of Central Java province, Indonesia. Thousands fled the slopes of Indonesia's most dangerous volcano Saturday as it spewed burning ash, rock and molten lava, signaling a major eruption is imminent. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)

[NormsRevenge]

Villagers watch hot lava flowing from the Mount Merapi volcano close to Bebeng village near the city of Yogyakarta in central Java, Indonesia May 13, 2006. Indonesia raised the alert status of the Mount Merapi volcano to the highest level on Saturday, prompting a compulsory evacuation of thousands of residents living on the slopes, officials said. REUTERS/Andry Prasetyo

[Paladin2]

Kool Photos. THNX.

[coconutt2000]

Send them New Orleans Mayor Nagin to manage the evacuation... Please...

He still thinks the reason he failed to evacuate the city is someone else's fault, and he needs another chance to prove he can do it better. (fat chance)

[RightWhale]

Could this thing go off like Krakatoa or is more likely to just ooze noxious substances?

[Quick Shot]

"Villages on Mount Merapi were left virtually empty. Women, children and the elderly filled buses and trucks to be driven to shelters set up at government buildings and schools in nearby towns on the island of Java."

They could do it on their own in Indonesia, but New Orleans could not figure it out.

[nmh]

Nice photos.

"Edi, a 30-year-old villager, said he would stay unless he received a clear signal from the mountain's spirits that an eruption was at hand. "

You'd think that hot lava coming would be adequate to evacuate ... .

[stephenjohnbanker]

Thanks Norm.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Wonderful pics. Thank you for posting this!

[17th Miss Regt]

I guess I am going to have to be the first to point out that this is the fault of George Bush!

[freeangel]

Whoa! Buses and trucks used for evacuation of an impending disaster? Who would have thunk it? Perhaps it's such a novel idea, the coastal communites(hear me nagin?) might want to give it a try.