[PHOTOS] See What Happens When A Volcanic Eruption Sends Ash 55,000 Feet Into The Air
Following a volcano eruption in east Java, three people have been killed so far after their home collapsed from the weight of volcanic ash and tens of thousands of Indonesians have fled their homes.
By Sadho Ram — 15 Feb 2014, 01:42 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
After Weeks Of Rumbling, Mount Kelud Erupted On The Indonesian Island Of Java On The Night Of 13 February, Sending Plumes Of Smoke And Hot Ash 55,700 Feet Into The Air
As of this morning, the volcano had killed three people and dislocated as many as 100,000. The current evacuation zone covers a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) radius including 36 villages.
Three people have been killed after their home collapsed from the weight of volcanic ash, as Alice Budisatrijo reports
Image via bbcimg.co.ukExplosions from the erupting mountain could be heard 130km away in Surabaya, the country's second-largest city, and even further afield in Jogyakarta, where workers at the world's largest Buddhist temple covered statues with plastic to protect them from falling ash.
Following The Volcanic Eruption Of Mount Kelud, Workers Covered The Iconic Stupas And Statues Of Borobudur Temple On 14 February, Closing The Region’s Largest Tourism Location To Visitors
The Prambanan temple and Ratu Boko palace were also closed for the day. It was unknown on Friday when the historic sites would reopen, the sites’ tourism company told the state-run Antara News Agency.
thejakartaglobe.com
The company apologized for any inconvenience they may have caused travelers. “We’re sorry for the inconvenient situation for people who were about to visit Borobudur and Prambanan temples and the Ratu Boko archeological site,” said Achamad Muchlis, secretary of the Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan dan Ratu Boko Yogyakarta company.
iranian.com
Borobudur could remain closed for the coming week. “The Borobudur temple conservation agency in Central Java has covered some of [the temple's] stupas to protect the temple stones from volcanic ash,” spokesman Indra said. “It’s predicted that the Stupas will be covered for the next seven days.”
thejakartaglobe.com
Mount Kelud is one of 130 active volcanoes in the country, which sits on the infamous "ring of fire" stretch of volcanic activity around the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, 11 people died when Mount Sinabung erupted on the island of Sumatra.
iranian.com
Seven Airports In The Eastern And Central Parts Of The Island Have Been Shut Down Because The Volcanic Ash Swirling In The Air Poses A Danger To Airplane Engines
Airports in Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo shut down because of low visibility. Yogyakarta airport manager Andi Wirson said the runway was covered in a 5cm-thick layer of ash.
Flights to and from nearby Australia have been forced to reschedule due to the smoke. The cloud is traveling west, and appears poised to blanket other parts of Java, including Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.
qz.com
Java Is Home To Some 140 Million People. Many Of Its Cities And Towns—Especially Those In The Central Part Of The Island, Nearest To Mount Kelud—Are Covered In Thick, Grey, Ash, As These Pictures Show:
The ash and dust could cause respiratory respiratory and lung diseases, the Jakarta Globe reports.
thejakartaglobe.com
A pedicab makes its way on a street covered with volcanic ash from an eruption of Mount Kelud.
Image via iranian.com
Some are still intent on getting around despite the blanket of ash. Here, a man wears a mask as he rides a becak, a kind of rickshaw, on a road covered with ash from Mount Kelud.
Image via Reuters/Dwi Oblo
The ash has turned entire towns grey. Here, a housing complex in Yogyakarta is covered.
Image via Reuters/Dwi ObloSome Of The Evacuees Tried To Visit Their Houses On Friday Morning To Gather Their Possessions, But Were Forced To Turn Back By The Stream Of Volcanic Ash And Rocks From The Volcano
"The whole place was shaking - it was like we were on a ship in high seas," one resident told AFP new agency. "We fled and could see lava in the distance flowing into a river."
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes and seek temporary shelter
Image via bbcimg.co.uk
Residents evacuate to a safe place by riding a motorbike in Malang, East Java province, on February 14, 2014 moment after Mount Kelud erupted
Image via rt.comThe volcano last erupted in 1990, killing dozens of people. A powerful eruption in 1919 killed around 5,000 people. Indonesia lies across a series of geological fault-lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
cnn.com