Situation report: 9 May 2006

Red-hot lava began flowing from the crater of rumbling Mt. Merapi early Thursday, 4th May. The latest condition in the peak of the volcano could be seen from the closest monitoring post in Kaliurang district, Sleman regency. An officer at the Yogyakarta Volcanology and Monitoring Agency said the appearance of such a volcanic material is a signal of further progress of the Merapi activities prior to its eruption. According to the information from the head of the volcano's monitoring office, burning streams of molten lava started pouring down the slopes at 2 a.m. local time (19.00 GMT Wednesday), indicating a possible eruption.

Merapi is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia. The 2914 -- meter volcano, which last erupted 12 years ago, has shown heightened activity in recent days, spewing dust from its crater and occasionally sending out streams of lava.

Merapi's last major eruption was in 1994 when heat clouds killed more than 60 people and 6000 others were forced to evacuate. It also erupted in 1976, killing 28 people and leaving 1176 people homeless.

Based on normal calculations, the mountain should erupt if it triggers more than 90 tremo rs, and Merapi has already exceeded the count -- more than 150 tremors.

The Research and Technology Development Agency for Vulcanology (BPPTK) in Yogyakarta informed that there no significant activity has been observed so far from Mt. Merapi. It is in its level III of alertness. BPPTK Yogyakarta also reported that 198 multi phase tremors, 4 shallow volcanic tremors and one tectonic tremor occurred on Tuesday, 25th April. Then on Wednesday, 26th April, as of 06.00 hours, there were 57 multi phase tremors, and one shallow volcanic tremor. On Wednesday, 3 May BPPTK informed that 84 tremors, 4 discharges, and 1 shallow volcanic tremor were recorded on the volcano shallow from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday, 1st May.

On Sunday, 7th May there were one shallow volcanic tremor, 133 multi phase tremors, and 88 tectonic tremors reported. The red- hot lava still flowing and the eruption flame has been seen 13 times at the top of Mt. Merapi from the monitoring posts in Babadan, Ngepos, Jrakah, and Selo.

On Monday, 8th May from 00:00 -- 06.00 hrs local time there were one shallow volcanic tremor, 34 multi phase tremors, and 29 tectonic tremors reported.

Abbreviations
· BAKORNAS PB: National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disaster
· BPPTK: Center for Volcano Research and Technology Development
· MENKOKESRA: Deputy for Disaster Management of Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare
· ORARI: Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia
· PDAM: local state owned water company
· PMI: Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross)
· SATLAK: District Disaster Management Committee
· SATKORLAK: Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disasters
· SO2: sulphur oxide

Mount Merapi Volcano related
· Gunung Merapi likely to erupt