Indonesia's Mount Bromo eruptions slowing down

Indonesia's Mount Bromo eruptions slowing down

2010-12-01 00:41:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

MALANG, INDONESIA (BNO NEW) — Indonesia's Mount Bromo has had increased volcanic activity since early November, prompting government officials to issue the highest volcano alert status, but experts say its beginning to calm down.

On Monday, the 2,330-meter-high (7,644 feet) Bromo was still spewing hot ash clouds up to 800 meters (2,625 feet) up into the air, but on Tuesday, the volcanic ash were only rising 200 (656 feet) to 300 meters (984 feet)above its crater. The clouds were much thinner compared to previous eruptions as well.

Gede Suantika, the head of the Bromo emergency response team at the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG), told the Jakarta Globe that these are indications that Bromo's activity is becoming relatively calm.

However, Suantika went on to say that residents should still take their precautions and maintain a distance of at least 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from Bromo's crater.

Transport Ministry spokesperson Bambang Ervan on Monday said Malang's Abdul Rachman Saleh airport, which is located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) west of Bromo, will be closed until Saturday. Engine trouble could arise due to the chemical substances from the ash, he explained.

Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes with its last eruption occurring in 2004. It usually erupts once a year, but it rarely spews out debris or hot ash.

It is located around 120 kilometers (70 miles) south of Surabaya, East Java's biggest city, and about 275 kilometers (170 miles) east of Mount Merapi, which has killed at least 322 people during its most recent eruption.

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