JABAR EKSPRES — Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta released incandescent lava 15 times with a maximum launch distance of 1,700 meters on Tuesday (5/2).

Head of the Center for Geological Disaster Technology Investigation and Development (BPPTKG), Agus Budi Santoso, in his official statement in Yogyakarta, explained that based on observations from 00.00 WIB to 06.00 WIB, the incandescent lava flows to the southwest or Kali Bebeng.

“The incandescent lava was observed 15 times to the southwest (K.Bebeng) with a maximum glide distance of 1,700 meters,” Agus said.

During the observation period, according to him, Mount Merapi experienced 36 cluster earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-22 mm for 21.04-143.32 seconds, and one multi-phase earthquake with an amplitude of 7 mm for 6.44 seconds.

Weak-pressure crater smoke was observed to be white with moderate intensity and a height of 50 meters above the top of the Merapi crater.

During the observation period on Monday (5/1) between 18:00-24:00 pm, Mount Merapi was also recorded to have launched 59 lava flows with a maximum distance of 1,700 meters toward Kali Bebeng and Kali Boyong.

He said the morphological analysis based on the report from April 21-27, 2023, showed morphological changes that occurred in the southwestern dome due to lava flows.

“For the middle dome, there is no significant change,” he said.

Meanwhile, the volume of Merapi’s southwestern dome based on aerial photographs on March 13, 2023 was calculated at 1,686,200 cubic meters and for the central dome at 2,312,100 cubic meters.

Until now, BPPTKG still maintains the status of Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and Yogyakarta Special Region at Level III or Alert.