The Jakarta Post, July 14, 2007
Volcano forces thousands more to flee
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After a few hours of quiet, Mount Gamkonora fired to life on Friday, just a day after the
government issued a warning that natural disasters could hit several parts of the
country in coming weeks.
The volcano's activity has sent thousands of residents on Halmahera Island in North
Maluku province fleeing for safety as clouds of ash rain down on nearby villages.
A series of volcanic earthquakes has also rocked the area around the volcano, which
started billowing ash and smoke last week.
Vulcanological Survey head Saut Simatupang warned that the flaming material
spitting from the volcano indicated that magma was close to the crater's surface.
"After 18 hours of no activity, we have spotted five consecutive volcanic quakes this
morning," Simatupang told Reuters by telephone from his office in Bandung, West
Java.
The volcano's alert status remains at a maximum of four, with officials fearing the
rumbling mountain is set for a bigger eruption.
Clouds of smoke and ash have also obscured the 1,635-meter volcano.
The last time the volcano spit out ash and smoke was in 1987 but no casualties were
reported.
Simatupang said he received reports that 13 villages have been covered in a thin
shower of volcanic ash.
The latest development has forced thousands of residents to move into makeshift
shelters or stay with friends and relatives in safer areas.
"Strong winds have carried clouds of volcanic ash in a radius of 15 kilometers from the
crater's rim and it's heading northwards, posing a health hazard to many," he said.
He said that so far, some 2,450 families or 12,500 people had been evacuated.
However, many have started to suffer from respiratory problems, he added.
On Thursday, ministers asked the people to brace for potential volcanic eruptions and
huge waves pounding numerous coastal regions.
After a limited Cabinet meeting, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo
Yusgiantoro said at least 12 volcanoes were active throughout the country.
In the same meeting, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Jamal also cautioned
people that huge waves, in excess of six meters in height, could persist until August.
The government also warned of the possibility of flooding and forest fires in the coming
months.
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