Ecco gli articoli di Fox e BBC.Aggiungo solo la notizia riportata dal TG2 secondo cui l'eruzione sia stata meno "imponente" di quanto previsto.Tuttavia leggendo gli articoli sotto pare che questo sia solo l'inizio in attesa del picco di attivitÃ* massima......





Indonesian Volcano Spews Ash in Biggest Eruption Yet
Monday, May 15, 2006


MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia — Clouds of deadly ash, rock fragments and hot gas surged down Mount Merapi's slopes Monday as activity intensified to the highest level since the volcano rumbled back to life weeks ago.
One eruption sent an avalanche of debris and ash rolling more than 2 miles down the mountain's western flank, said Ratdomopurbo, the region's chief vulcanologist, who like many Javanese uses only one name. It was followed by several other huge explosions.
Many people who earlier had refused to leave the danger zone fled in public minivans or trucks. Villages near the peak resembled ghost towns, with only a few men to be seen. Houses, some dusted with ash, were deserted and shops closed.
"I am panicking this time," said Katimi, a mother of three who had taken refuge in a mosque serving as an evacuation point. "Merapi appears angry."
Scientists raised the alert status for Merapi on Saturday to the highest level after weeks of volcanic activity, and by Sunday authorities had evacuated more than 4,500 people living in villages closest to the crater or next to rivers that could provide paths for hot lava.
They are now living in mosques, government buildings and schools.








Java volcano activity increases

Great clouds can now be seen coming from the volcano

Activity on the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi has intensified, with continuous clouds of ash, gas and rock fragments spewing from its crater.
One of the emissions sent a pile of debris 4km (2.5 miles) down one side of the mountain, scientists said.
Experts monitoring the volcano, in central Java, raised its alert status to the highest level on Saturday.
Thousands of people have been moved from the volcano's upper slopes, but a small number are refusing to leave.
So far there have been no confirmed reports of fresh lava flows from Mount Merapi on Monday, but the volcano is becoming more active by the day.



In pictures: Villagers flee

At least one village about 3 km ( 2 miles) from the crater has already been covered in a thin coat of volcanic ash.
Subandriyo, a vulcanologist on Merapi, told the BBC that he now believes the volcano is in the early stages of an eruption, adding that it was not possible to predict "when it will reach its peak". But the Centre of Vulcanological Research and Technology (CVRT) in Yogyakarta - an historic university town about 25 miles (40 km) from Mount Merapi - said that the clouds were not necessarily a sign that the volcano was erupting. "It is only a sign of extraordinary activity," said Jilal, a CVRT official.