(8 Jun 2006)
AP TELEVISION
Merapi
1. Night shots of lava
Yogyakarta
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Doctor A. Ratdomopurbo, Vulcanologist:
"It erupts in the sense of only dome formations and when the domes collapse, then it creates a pyroclastic flow, up to seven kilometres..."
Merapi
3. Various shots of plume of steam and ash spewing from volcano
4. Various shots of refugee camp (8kms away from volcano)
5. SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Suminten (no surname given), Villager who left home:
"I hope the Merapi volcano will be safe, so all refugees can go back to their villages and start work again."
6. Various shots of plume of steam and ash spewing from volcano
7. Girls walking in street near volcano
METRO TV - NO ACCESS INDONESIA
Merapi
8. Various shots of plume of steam and ash spewing from volcano
9. Travelling shot on road near volcano of people leaving villages on foot and motorbikes
10. Woman crying and hugging relative, pan to woman crying and another woman cradling baby
11. Various shots of plume of steam and ash spewing from volcano
STORYLINE:
Indonesia's Mount Merapi spewed a spectacular cloud of hot gas and ash down its southern slope on Thursday, sending more than 15,000 villagers fleeing to safety, government officials and witnesses said.
The volcano has been venting steam and ash for weeks, but the 9:15 a.m. (0215 GMT) burst was the largest yet, with billowing, dark gray clouds avalanching 5 1/2 kilometres (3 1/2 miles) down its slopes, vulcanologists said.
It was one of a series of powerful explosions early on Thursday at Indonesia's most dangerous volcano.
Some scientists say a May 27 earthquake that killed more than 5,700 people in an area just 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Mount Merapi may have contributed to the volcano's heightened activity in recent weeks.
The rumbling mountain's lava dome has swelled, raising concerns that it could suddenly collapse and send scalding clouds of fast-moving gas, lava and rocks into areas that have yet to be evacuated.
"When the domes collapse, then it creates a pyroclastic flow, up to seven kilometres..." one expert told AP Television.
Government officials said 3,500 people had fled Sleman district on Merapi's southern side, some running and others piling in trucks and heading to nearby towns at the base.
Another 12,000 left their villages in Magelang district, on the west, officials said.
Local television pictures broadcast on Thursday showed people leaving their homes, some running, and others in cars and motorbikes.
Many have taken shelter in makeshift camps, but are keen to return home once they are sure it is safe.
The government raised Merapi's alert to the highest level three weeks ago and started evacuating thousands of people living within seven kilometres (four miles) of the crater to government shelters, schools and camps.
Some people refused orders to leave, however, saying they wanted to tend to their livestock and crops on the volcano's fertile slopes.
Keyword- volcano
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
