Indonesia: Volcano [DHA-01: 20-Jan-97]
Indonesia: Volcano [DHA-01: 20-Jan-97]
United Nations
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Indonesisa - MT Merapi Volcanic Eruption
DHA Situation Report No. 1
20 January 1997
1. The National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management
(BAKORNAS PB) of the Government reports that Mt. Merapi in
Central Java erupted at 10:35 hours on 17 January 1997, gushing
molten lava and spewing heat clouds of ash over vast areas. The
eruption also produced heavy solvated smoke with low pressure
at 200 meters height.
2. Local authorities of Yogyakarta have maintained the
Mt. Merapi alert at the highest level. Eruption of lava
and heat clouds is still being reported. There were heavy
rains on 17 and 18 January in surrounding areas, which
might cause mudflows of the accumulated lava.
3. As of 18 January 1997, more than 3,000 persons from
villages or communities of Kaliurang, Turgo, Tritia,
Ngandong, Glogaharjo, Kepuharjo and Umbulharjo were
evacuated into elementary school, relocation area,
kindergarten, houses of village heads, etc. However,
approximately 300 people in some hamlets refused to be
evacuated. Local authorities are trying to persuade the
remaining villagers to be evacuated.
4. In cooperation with Radio, Armed Forces, Ministries of
Public Works and Social Affairs, SATLAK PB (district
emergency operation center) has been providing emergency
assistance for communications, communal kitchens, clean
water, waste basins, mats/beds and other items required
in the evacuation shelters. It has been agreed that the
operational costs would be covered from the remaining
balance of Mt. Merapi eruption in 1994.
5. A coordination meeting of the concerned ministries was
to be held on 20 January. The result has not become known
yet.
6. No appeal for international assistance has been
received. DHA/UN Resident Coordinator continues to
monitor the situation.
Telephone number. +41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: +41-22-917-3131
Desk Officer: Mr. Yoshunobu Fukasawa, direct tel: +41-22-
917.31.31
Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct tel: +41-
22-917-2856
Telex: 414242 dha ch
Fax: +41-22-917-0023
E. Mail: dhagva at un.org
distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@cidi.org
sitreps nat-dsr
appeal fireline
web: www.cidi.org rwanda
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@cidi.org