Indonesia’s Merapi volcano erupted powerfully on March 2, 2020, 22:22 UTC, sending a plume of ash and gas 10.7 km (35 000 feet) above sea level.
The strong eruption produced pyroclastic flows that ran up to 2 km (1.2 miles) down the slopes of the volcanic peak in Java.
The large eruption lasted about 450 seconds and was heard and felt up to 30 km (18 miles) away.
Residents report a thundering noise for at least five minutes.
The massive ash cloud was ejected some 6,000m (20,000ft) above the summit and coated nearby communities with grey dust and forced an airport closure.
Did you see the volcanic lightnings? Amazing and terrifying. Here you go again:
Ash mixed with sand rained down on towns as far as 10km (six miles) from the crater on fire near Yogyakarta.
The strong eruption prompted officials to raise the Aviation Color Code from orange to red at 22:50 UTC.
The international Airport Adisumarmo International Airport in Solo/Surakarta was shut down during a few hours after the explosion.
People are advised to stay out of a 3km no-go zone around Mount Merapi’s summit due to danger from flowing lava and pyroclastic flows.
Mount Merapi’s last major eruption was in 2010. The deadly explosion killed more than 300 people and forced the evacuation of 280,000 residents. More volcano news on Strange Sounds and Steve Quayle. [Guardian]
