Volcano Heats Up, May Erupt in Indonesia

Irwan Firdaus at Mount Kelud, Indonesia
Associated Press

November 5, 2007

Indonesia's deadly Mount Kelud spewed fresh clouds of smoke Monday, and the temperature of its crater lake soared.

Scientists said an eruption now could be much stronger than the last time the volcano blew its top in 1990.

At least two more of Indonesia's approximately 100 active volcanoes also were emitting smoke, with one—Anak Krakatau (see photo)—spitting glowing stones and lava as well, illustrating the powerful seismic forces under the archipelago.

But authorities were most worried about Kelud, located on the island Java, because of the volcano's deadly history, including a 1919 eruption that killed thousands.

The temperature of its crater lake was so high that nearby monitoring equipment was no longer working, said Surono, one of 16 volcanologists watching over the peak 24 hours a day. Like many Indonesians, he uses only one name.

Villagers Reluctant to Leave

Despite the threat, there was little sense of panic among villagers on Kelud's slopes.

While several thousand people have fled to government shelters, authorities said Sunday that around 25,000 others were ignoring evacuation orders and remained in the danger zone.

(See a photo of a shelter near Mount Kelud [October 20, 2007].)

Officials have made no attempt to prevent people from traveling inside a six-mile (ten-kilometer) zone around the peak, although the local government says the area is off-limits.

"I feel it is OK to stay here," said Sukirno, a local man who was tending papaya plants four miles (six kilometers) from the peak. "No one can guarantee our safety apart from ourselves."

Highest Alert

Kelud has been on the highest alert level for more than two weeks, but since Friday scientists have been warning an eruption may be imminent, based on the frequency of tremors shaking the mountain and the temperature of its lake.

In 1990 Mount Kelud spat out red-hot gases, mud, and lava that killed more than 30 people and injured hundreds.

In 1919 a powerful explosion that reportedly could be heard hundreds of miles away killed more than 5,000 thousand people.

"If it goes this time, it will be much larger than in 1990," said Surono, basing his prediction on the number of tremors and the lake temperature—both of which are much greater than in the days preceding the earlier blast.

But scientists said an eruption might not occur at all, given the unpredictable nature of the 5,679-foot (1,730-meter) mountain.

Other Indonesian Volcanoes

About 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Kelud, Mount Semeru was also sending ash clouds high into the air, witnesses said. The area was on alert, but no evacuations were ordered.

Anak Krakatau—which is off the northern tip of Java island—was spitting out hot stones and lava as well as clouds of ash. It also was on alert.

The volcano's name means "Krakatau's Child." It was formed after the massive eruption of the Krakatau (Krakatoa) volcano in 1883.

That blast was heard nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away in Australia and sent surges of gas and burning ash, which, combined with a tsunami, killed at least 36,000 people.

Indonesia is spread across 17,500 islands and is prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes because of its location along the Ring of Fire—a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Free Email News Updates
Sign up for our Inside National Geographic newsletter. Every two weeks we'll send you our top stories and pictures (see sample).