Thousands Flee Rumbling Indonesia Volcano

Molten lava slides down the side of Indonesia's Mount Merapi. The alert status of the volcano has been upgraded to its highest level, an official said, meaning some 34,000 people living in its danger zone face mandatory evacuation.(AFP/Bay Ismoyo)

This is incredible. From Yahoo News:

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia ordered the immediate evacuation Saturday of thousands of people from the slopes of Mount Merapi volcano, warning of an imminent eruption as the mountain oozed fiery lava and belched clouds of black ash.

Hundreds of women, children and elderly were taken in buses and trucks to relocation centers set up at local schools and government buildings.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, right, talks with refugees at an evacuation place at Purwobinangun Pakem village in Yogyakarta, central Java, Thursday, May 11, 2006. Although the level of volcanic activity measured by scientists has remained at level 3, the second highest level, the volcano has been spewing huge clouds of gasses and ash, and a giant lava dome has formed on the southern side of the crater. (AP Photo)


Authorities put the region on highest alert after they observed two days of steady lava flow from the 9,700-foot peak on the island of Java.

"Because there have been constant lava flows that cause hot gases, we have raised the status to the highest level," said Bambang Dwiyanto, head of the region's volcanology center.

Many people had been evacuated from homes closest to the crater prior to Saturday, but thousands who live further down the fertile slopes refused to leave behind precious livestock and crops. Officials have said as many as 7,000 people still needed to go.

Refugees from near the Mount Merapi sleep in the local government office in Kemalang village about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Merapi early Saturday, May 6, 2006 in Central Java, Indonesia. Red-hot lava has been intermittently flowing from the rumbling volcano since Thursday and continues to be classified as phase three, the second highest level of volcanic activity. (AP Photo/Bayu Pamungkas)

On Saturday, experts recorded 27 volcanic tremors as burning lava oozed from the crater and reached nearly a mile down its slopes, said Dr. Ratdomo Purbo, who heads an observation post at Merapi. He said the mountain, about 250 miles southeast of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, had spewed hot ash clouds at least 14 times on Saturday.

Lava is spilling from Mount Merapi in this photo taken from Bebeng villages in Yogyakarta, central java, Indonesia, Saturday, May 13 2006. Indonesia on Saturday raised the alert at the Merapi volcano to the highest level, meaning an eruption may be imminent, an official said. (AP Photo/ Purwowiyoto)

I don't think I've ever seen a volcanic eruption where actual lava was spilling out from a perfectly-shaped cone. Incredible.