Villages Covered In Ash As Volcano Erupts In Indonesia: Photos

Indonesia volcano eruption:

• On Saturday, March 11th, 2023, Indonesia’s Merapi volcano erupted, spewing smoke and ash over nearby villages in the Yogyakarta region.
• The eruption occurred at around 12:00 local time, and hot clouds of up to 7 kilometers were reported.
• Despite the intensity of the eruption, no casualties have been reported, and residents of nearby communities have been advised to avoid any activity within three to seven kilometers of the volcano’s crater.
• As one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, Merapi had already been at the second-highest alert level in the country.
• The last violent eruption of Merapi was in 2010, resulting in the death of more than 350 people.

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday, sending smoke and ash billowing into the sky and covering nearby villages in a thick layer of ash.

The eruption occurred at around 12:00 local time and spewed hot clouds up to 7 kilometers high.

The Indonesian disaster management agency reported that there were no casualties, but residents of nearby communities were warned to stay away from the danger zones, which range from three to seven kilometers in radius.

Merapi had already been at the second-highest alert level before the eruption.

Yulianto, an official at the local monitoring post, said that no residents had been evacuated yet. He noted that while there had been five to six avalanches, it was a one-time event.

However, if the coverage of ash continued to increase and the distance exceeded 7 kilometers, residents might be advised to evacuate.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The country has more volcanoes than any other in the world. Merapi’s last violent eruption was in 2010, which claimed more than 350 lives.

Saturday’s eruption sent ash and smoke up to 6,000 meters into the sky, and the ash covered villages and farmland as far as 10 kilometers from the volcano.

Local residents reported hearing loud explosions and feeling vibrations, with some describing the eruption as the strongest they had experienced.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and locals have been advised to wear masks and stay indoors to avoid respiratory problems.

The ash has also disrupted flights in and out of Yogyakarta’s Adisutjipto International Airport, with several flights canceled or diverted due to poor visibility caused by the ash cloud.

Merapi’s ongoing activity has caused concern among locals, who rely on the volcano for farming and tourism.

The government has set up a 24-hour hotline to provide information and support to those affected by the eruption.

Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, has urged people to remain calm and to follow instructions from authorities. “I hope all people in the vicinity of the volcano can stay safe and avoid any potential danger,” he said.

In the meantime, experts are warning that further eruptions could occur and are advising locals to remain vigilant.

The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has advised people living near the volcano to be prepared for ash rain and to wear masks to protect themselves from the harmful effects of ash particles.

Check photos below: