Indonesia on top alert for volcanic eruption

The alert on the volcano, one of Indonesia’s deadliest and located 90 km (55 miles) southwest of its second-largest city, Surabaya, was raised to maximum late on Tuesday, meaning it could erupt within 24 hours.

Authorities had ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 people from a 10-km (6-mile) zone near the 1,731-meter (5,712-foot) volcano, a statement from the National Agency for Disaster Management said.

“The volcano is still on highest alert. I advise people to stay in the shelters and to be patient,” Surono, head of Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, told Reuters. Another official said the number of volcanic quakes had dropped from up to 500 on Tuesday to 61 on Wednesday morning, but said that did not mean an eruption could be ruled out.

“In fact, it may erupt in two or three days after there are less quakes, because the volcano may be storing energy for a blow out,” said Saut Simatupang, head of the vulcanological survey.

In Kampung Anyar, about 7 km from the crater and within a zone deemed by authorities as dangerous, many villagers were at home.

“It’s not certain if Mount Kelud would ever go off. My parents and my siblings are at home at the moment. I’m going off to see some friends,” said Marsudi, a resident in the village, who evacuated and then returned to his home.

“Whenever we’re asked to evacuate, we will do so. But we came back simply because nothing happened.”

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