YOGYAKARTA (Indonesia), 13 June 2006 - An Indonesian state agency monitoring Mount Merapi lowered the volcano’s alert status after emissions decreased.

Merapi, (Island of Java), which is located near the ancient royal city of Yogyakarta (Indonesia), is considered to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. It has threatened a major eruption over the weeks, forcing evacuations of 18,000 people from its slopes.

Triyani, a volcanologist at the Centre for Volcanological Research and Technology Department, said that “Merapi’s status had been lowered from ‘alert’ to ‘prepared’.”

May 27 2006 - Residents refused to move and were spurred into action after an earthquake shook Yogyakarta, killing more than 5,700, spewing out massive gas clouds and fresh lava flows, Merapi has since calmed down. Experts feared that a lava dome, which has been building up since April as a result of activity, could collapse; generating clouds of gas and lava flows that could cause casualties. Partial degradation of the dome relieved the pressure thus reducing that danger.

Mount Merapi History

• 1930 – 1,300 people died after a volcanic eruption
• 1994 – More than 60 people died when Merapi last erupted

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