VIDEO. Indonesia: a gigantic plume of ash threatens several villages after the awakening of the Merapi volcano
It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mount Merapi, which has been dormant for 12 years, suddenly woke up this Saturday on the Indonesian island of Java. This sudden eruption caused a gigantic cloud of ash, within a radius of seven kilometers. Houses and roads in a village near the volcano were quickly covered in ash. No casualties were immediately reported, according to the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). “To anticipate the potential danger of Mount Merapi’s eruption, the public is advised to cease all activity in the potential danger zone,” Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the agency, said in a statement.
Nearby residents should expect disruption from the ash and be alert to potential hazards from volcanic mudslides. Today, there are nearly 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The last eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 killed 350 people.
