Friday April 15, 2005

Scientists watching 79 Indonesian volcanoes

nst.com.my :

Indonesia has placed 79 active volcanoes on close watch following heightened volcanic activity as massive aftershocks continued to hit Sumatra island daily since the Dec 26 earthquake. Some scientists fear the seismic activity has the potential to trigger a major eruption while the government has urged the public to remain calm.

Indonesia has the world's largest number of active volcanoes with 129 and is part of the notorious Pacific "Ring of Fire" fault line which stretches from quake prone Japan, through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific Basin.

"There are 79 volcanoes which need to be closely-watched and they are being monitored by all observation posts," vulcanologist Wimpy S. Cecep, told the New Straits Times.

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of people panicked and fled from the slopes of Mount Talang, Solok Regency, West Sumatra when the 2,572-metre volcano spewed hot ash as high as 10 metres to blanket five villages. No casualties were reported.

On Wednesday, two volcanoes reported heightened activity in West Java.

- Sometimes, you just have to wonder. A deadly tsunami, earthquakes, and now volcanoes? Hopefully reality stays on the good side of the statistics regarding a major eruption, otherwise, for a preview of a "Day After Tomorrow"-like scenario, you can watch BBC's Supervolcano.

(2005-04-15 22:36:54 SGT) [Env] Permalink

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