Breaking on AP: Indonesian Volcano just Erupted Violently

[leftyladyfrommo]

I'm trying to find out more. A lot of people had returned home to care for their animals and crops.

[babylonsister]

1. Here:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1971743

Indonesia's Mount Merapi Erupts Violently

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia May 17, 2006 (AP)— Mount Merapi shot a large cloud of searing hot ash and gas into the sky Wednesday, ending two days of relative calm and underscoring the dangers still facing thousands of people living on the volcano's slopes.

Witnesses said the eruption appeared to be smaller than the mountain's most violent sputterings Monday, when ash and gas clouds surged around 2 1/2 miles from the peak and triggered panic.

Vulcanologists keeping the mountain on 24-hour watch were not immediately available for comment on the eruption just after 5 p.m. (6 a.m. EDT), which sent debris plunging down its western flanks, but appeared to fell well short of populated areas.

Earlier Wednesday, farmers journeyed high up Merapi's slopes collecting grass for cows and children kicked soccer balls both within a 3.7-mile zone declared off-limits when the mountain was placed on its highest alert Saturday.

more...

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. I just found that one, too. At least its not the "Big One"

that could happen at any time. Sounds like a lot of gas and ash.

[MadHound]

2. Let us hope that those people and pets stay safe

And get out of the way in time. This could be a real disaster, not that our government will give a shit.

On the positive side, here in the US we'll be having some real cool sunsets for awhile.

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. That is so scary because the area is so densly populated

and a whole lot of those people really don't believe that volcano is going to hurt them. They have lived with it for ever. And their crops and animals are all they have so they aren't going to leave.

[MadHound]

5. You are so correct

And if that volcano really blows, from what I understand is will take a good sized chunk of the island with it.

Time for those people to leave, now. Get the basics, pack up the kids and pets, and leave the rest behind. I hope that they're wise enough to do so.

[unhappycamper]

6. The eruption showed on the IRIS Seismic Monitor.

One at 16-MAY-2006 15:28:24 @ 6.8 on the Ricter scale, and another at 16-MAY-2006 16:19:38 @ 5.6.

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

[cliss]

7. Wow, scary.

Thanks for the update, lefty.

[The Witch]

8. Same story from this morning or has she gone again??

Why is there no webcam :banghead:

(I am a disaster junkie)

[Stinky The Clown]

9. "(I am a disaster junkie)"

You must be lovin' bushco!

:hi:

[The Witch]

12. No, I like Mother Nature's fury...

...but I will admit that Bushco is good at pushing her over the edge.

[VolcanoJen]

10. I swear I had nothing to do with it.

}(

[WillyT]

11. LOL !!! - Good One !!!

:hi:

[Critters2]

14. That's not what your phone records show n/t

[Critters2]

13. Strange connection, but this makes me think of my mother

She was fascinated with volcanoes--knew all about them, as a hobby. She could name volcanoes in far off places, and talk about when they erupted and when they're likely to erupt again. Just before she became ill, there was talk of Mt. St. Helen's erupting again, and she followed it closely.

When I heard this, my first thought was "It's too bad Mom's not here to see this".

Mother's Day was a little hard, too.

Back to the volcano...

[Ksec]

15. That ones gonna be a doozie

Hopefully itll give people enough time to get the Hell out of Dodge.

[RobertSeattle]

16. It's Bush's Fault

Freeper lurkers: I'm J-O-K-I-N-G

[leftyladyfrommo]

17. Don't joke about that. We may find out that it really is his fault.

That might be what he gets for praying to all of his false gods.