An eruption Monday sent locals fleeing once again as hot clouds filled with gas and ash shot thousands of feet into the air, blanketing the Indonesian sky. So far there are no reports of further injuries. Mount Merapi, on Indonesia’s island of Java, has continued to erupt since Oct. 26 when 29 people were killed after their village was destroyed by hot gas.
Last week’s eruption is the second of two disasters that Indonesians are struggling to recover from in the past week.
The latest volcanic explosion came just one week after an eruption and a tsunami 750 miles to the west simultaneously devastated separate regions of Indonesia, killing almost 500 people and forcing tens of thousands more from their homes. Rescuers are finally getting aid to tsunami victims as adverse weather conditions are improving.
The fault responsible for the disasters is the same earthquake fault that caused 2004’s 9.1 magnitude quake that created a giant tsunami, killing 230,000 people.
Travelers should avoid Indonesian disaster areas
Travelers should stay clear of the disaster hit areas of Java and the Mentawai Islands. Local authorities have evacuated a 10 km area around the volcano on Indonesia’s island of Java as eruptions and aftershocks continue to occur. Travelers in the area should pay close attention to developments and listen to Indonesian authorities instructions. There are 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, so travelers should continually check safety updates as they are issued on short notice. Travelers should also avoid the tsunami-hit Mentawi Islands; an area in ruin where many Indonesian residents have been displaced.
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