Indonesia’s Mount Merapi erupted, sending searing gas clouds and lava avalanches down its slopes. Many active volcanoes across the country also flared up, resulting in the evacuation of thousands. Merapi released clouds of hot ash and rock that traveled up to 2 kilometers down its slopes. An ash column rose 100 meters into the air, covering several nearby villages, though no casualties were reported. Indonesia has over 120 active volcanoes, with Merapi being the most active. Residents were advised to stay at least 7 kilometers away from the crater’s mouth and be aware of possible threats.
Mount Merapi is 30 kilometers from Yogyakarta, an ancient center of Javanese culture. Several other active volcanoes also erupted over the weekend. Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation reported that no casualties were reported, but thousands of residents had to be evacuated. In December 2021, the highest volcano on Java island erupted, which resulted in 48 deaths and 36 missing. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location along the Ring of Fire.