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Volcanic Threat to Java

A huge volcano in the heart of densely populated Java was spewing thick clouds of smoke and hot lava Monday, triggering plans to evacuate thousands of villagers. Authorities placed Mount Merapi, which overlooks the ancient city of Yogjakarta, on Orange Code - the second highest alert level. Mount Merapi is located 460km west of the city of Jakarta.

"Due to a high level of tremor activities and the spewing of the lava, Mount Merapi is now on alert status," said Dali Ahmad, a volcanologist from the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Officials said the military had deployed more than 200 trucks and buses to evacuate villagers living on the slopes of Merapi.

Mount Merapi`s increased volcanic activity prompted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to order preparations for evacuation. Merapi`s last major eruption was in 1994, when more than 60 people were killed. The most destructive eruption on record for the volcano took place in 1930, with 1,300 fatalities resulting from it.