 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Officials brace for Indonesia volcano eruption
Jakarta (AFP) Oct 9, 2007 Indonesian officials in two districts on the slopes of a volcano on Java island have been put on standby -- with all leave cancelled -- because of a potential eruption, officials said Tuesday. The order, which means they should not leave the districts, was issued "so evacuation and relief efforts can proceed smoothly," said Agus, spokesman for one of the two areas who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Officials said that evacuation drills had been conducted in at least nine villages near Mount Kelut in the past week. "There have been no significant changes, Kelut is still at the same alert status level," said Agus Budianto, a geologist monitoring the mountain. Mount Kelut has been placed on the second highest of four alert levels. Budianto said it had been showing signs of increasing volcanic and seismic activities in past weeks, and that the state volcanology office had warned of an eruption at any time. A district spokesman said the volcanology office warned that signs of an imminent blow-out were much stronger this time than preceding an eruption in 1990. That was the last time the 1,731-metre (5,712-foot) volcano went off. An estimated 15,000 people have been killed by the volcano in the last 500 years, including around 10,000 in a 1568 eruption. Authorities have closed off a five-kilometre (three-mile) zone around the crater of the mountain and told residents to prepare to evacuate at the first sign of any explosion. Although Mount Kelut's slopes are sparsely inhabited, its peak is a popular domestic tourist destination and overlooks a densely-populated plain. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters When the Earth Quakes A world of storm and tempest
Krosa weaker, but rain pounds southeast China
Shanghai (AFP) Oct 8, 2007Torrential rains pummelled southeast China on Monday, but authorities said weakening tropical storm Krosa would not directly hit the nation's biggest metropolis of Shanghai as it moved inland. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
