Situation report: 19 April 2006

Based on the seismic record that indicated increased volcanic activity at Mt. Merapi, the Directorate of Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (12 Apr.) raised the level of alertness from level II to level III, which indicates that Mt. Merapi may erupt at any time. BPPTK reported their 18 Apr. observation of 113 multi phase tremors, 8 streams of lava, 7 volcanic tremors, with white and thick SO2 smoke of 400 m height from its crater. BPPTK confirmed (19 Apr.) that based on the scientific data, Mt. Merapi will most likely erupt.

BPPTK Yogyakarta encouraged communities not to conduct any activities in the river having its upper course at Mt. Merapi. BPPTK Yogyakarta has already developed four scenarios based on the direction of the lava in case an eruption occurs. The Government of Indonesia is working on the third case scenario, one level below the worst-case scenario, anticipating over 80,000 people to be displaced.

There are four districts located on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, namely Boyolali (59,851 inhabitants), Magelang (111,461 inhabitants), Klaten (126,831 inhabitants) and Sleman (56,215 inhabitants). The number of affected people in Boyolali would be around 8,000, in Magelang it would be 27,884 persons, in Klaten 7,780 persons, and in Sleman 26,896 persons.

Abbreviations
· BPPTK: Center for Volcano Research and Technology Development
· SO2: sulphur oxide

Mount Merapi Volcano related
· Gunung Merapi likely to erupt