Published: 20th January 2021

Activity of the Volcano:

Significant changes to the activity of Merapi since my last visit in October 2020. A new lava dome have emerged, during January, on the SW side of the summit area. Frequent rockfall and pyroclastic flows generated from the new lava dome have been reported by the local authorities (BPPTKG, The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Geological Agency).

I Observed Merapi from a distance of 11 km to the South of the volcano, several hours on the 15-16-17 January. Rockfall events were observed on all days, and during dark, was incandescent. Activity was highest during the 17th January. The rockfall reached distances of only a few hundred meters below the new lava dome.

Seismicity at Merapi seem to have declined in the days after the emergence of the new 2021 lava dome.

A 5 km restriction zone is currently in place for Merapi volcano, according to Indonesian Authorities BPPTKG, The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Geological Agency. The volcano is as of today 20th January 2021 on alert level III.

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