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Indonesia volcano eruption sparks evacuations and airport closures Mt Kelud eruption sparks evacuations and airport closures in Indonesia
(about 4 hours later)
A volcano erupted late on Thursday night on A volcano erupted late on Thursday night on
the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java, sending a huge plume ofthe heavily populated Indonesian island of Java, sending a huge plume of
ash and sand 10 miles into the air and forcing the closure of ash and sand 10 miles into the air and forcing the closure of
three airports.three airports.
Mt Kelud is 85 miles (140km) south of Indonesia’s second biggest city, Surabaya, a major industrial centre.Mt Kelud is 85 miles (140km) south of Indonesia’s second biggest city, Surabaya, a major industrial centre.
The cloud from the eruption was seen far to the west andThe cloud from the eruption was seen far to the west and
forced the shutdown of airports at Surabaya and the cities of forced the shutdown of airports at Surabaya and the cities of
Yogyakarta and Solo. Airlines in neighbouring countries including Australia said they were cancelling flights to the affected areas and destinations further afield such as Bali, Christmas Island and the Cocos due to the dangers to aviation from the volcanic ash cloud.Yogyakarta and Solo. Airlines in neighbouring countries including Australia said they were cancelling flights to the affected areas and destinations further afield such as Bali, Christmas Island and the Cocos due to the dangers to aviation from the volcanic ash cloud.
“Areas to the west of Mt Kelud, including central Java, “Areas to the west of Mt Kelud, including central Java,
Yogyakarta, Cilacap, Magelang, Temanggung and Boyolali are still Yogyakarta, Cilacap, Magelang, Temanggung and Boyolali are still
experiencing showers of ash because last night the biggest eruption ... experiencing showers of ash because last night the biggest eruption ...
threw sand and ash 17km into the air to the west,” National Disaster threw sand and ash 17km into the air to the west,” National Disaster
Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho said by telephone.Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho said by telephone.
Cilacap is home to a major oil refinery but there was no immediate Cilacap is home to a major oil refinery but there was no immediate
word on whether its operations had been affected. Its refineries supply word on whether its operations had been affected. Its refineries supply
about a third of the country’s fuel needs.about a third of the country’s fuel needs.
The agency later said the cloud was dissipating and the volcano was no longer erupting.The agency later said the cloud was dissipating and the volcano was no longer erupting.
NugrohoNugroho
said the agency was still trying to confirm reports that two people had said the agency was still trying to confirm reports that two people had
died. “We don’t have data yet on how many people have been evacuated died. “We don’t have data yet on how many people have been evacuated
in in
total. We can say 200,000 people were affected. We received reports of total. We can say 200,000 people were affected. We received reports of
deaths but we have not verified them yet,” he said.deaths but we have not verified them yet,” he said.
The eruption caused minimal damage to buildings, Sutopo said, but The eruption caused minimal damage to buildings, Sutopo said, but
had left 3-5cm of ash and sand on roads. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he planned to visit the area near Kelud.had left 3-5cm of ash and sand on roads. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he planned to visit the area near Kelud.
An estimated 200,000 people live within a six-mile (10km) radius of Mt Kelud, An estimated 200,000 people live within a six-mile (10km) radius of Mt Kelud,
one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world’s fourth most populous one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world’s fourth most populous
country. Many of the people who had evacuated were returning to their homes to clean up, authorities said.country. Many of the people who had evacuated were returning to their homes to clean up, authorities said.
At least 11 people were killed earler this month in the north of At least 11 people were killed earler this month in the north of
the island of Sumatra when Mount Sinabung erupted. The volcano has been the island of Sumatra when Mount Sinabung erupted. The volcano has been
spewing lava and ash for months, forcing thousands to flee the area and spewing lava and ash for months, forcing thousands to flee the area and
destroying crops.destroying crops.