Indonesia Evacuates Volcano Area

07/06/2006| IslamWeb

Indonesia has ordered the evacuation of 11,000 people amid signs of growing volcanic activity from Mount Merapi.

The volcano on the island of Java has been spewing out lava and toxic gases for days; however the levels increased on Tuesday.

Officials said trucks and cars were being used to transport people to temporary shelter.

The volcano's activity has risen since a magnitude 6.3 quake struck nearby, killing nearly 6,000 people on 27 May.

Some scientists believe the earthquake may have contributed to increased volcanic activity.

A cloud of gas from Mount Merapi stretched for 4km (2.4 miles) and lava flows had spread up to 7km (four miles) from the crater, officials were quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

Villages around Mount Merapi were evacuated earlier this month when the volcano first showed signs of erupting, but many residents had returned home by the time the earthquake hit.

Photo caption

Mount Merapi 6/06/06