Western Indonesia has been struck with a series of disasters this past week. There were three volcanic eruptions on Mount Marapi in Central Java. An earthquake on the ocean floor triggered a tsunami that caused extensive damage on the Mentawai Islands.
Eruption of Mount Merapi
On October 30, 2010 another significant eruption occurred Saturday on Mount Merapi at 1:00 a.m. local time. The first volcanic eruption took place on Tuesday where 34 people were killed and 17 were injured. There were no reported deaths resulting from the second eruption on Thursday but the third eruption on Saturday caused two injuries.
At least 47,000 people who lived within a 7-mile radius of the Merapi Volcano were evacuated after Tuesday’s eruption. The displaced residents were placed into refugee camps and their livestock were brought with them.
According to John Seach of Volcano Live, “Between midday and 6pm yesterday [Saturday] the seismic activity was high at the volcano and 97 earthquake avalanches recorded, bringing the total to 285 since the start of the eruption. Three pyroclastic flows were recorded with a runout distance of 1 km.”
Scientists believe that the pressure building under the dome of the mountain may cause a very powerful explosion.
Tsunami Strikes Western Indonesia
On Monday, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the ocean floor, struck western Indonesia and the latest death toll was estimated at 343. It is believed that over 300 people are still missing and may never be found if they have been washed out to the ocean.
The Mentawai Islands, which are located west of the Sumatra coast, suffered massive damage from the tsunami. In parts of Pagai Utara, which is one of four main islands in the Mentawai chain, the wave height was measured at 10 feet high. In other areas, mostly bays and inlets, there was evidence that the wave may have been as high as 20 feet.
Associated Press correspondents Achmad Ibrahim and Kristen Gelineau, described the devastation caused by the tsunami. “Search and rescue teams – kept away for days by stormy seas and bad weather – found bodies on the roads and beaches. Not even the foundations of houses are standing. All of them are gone, according to Harmensyah, head of the West Sumatra provincial disaster management center.”
The tsunami warning system installed after the disastrous Indian Ocean tsunami on December 2004, was not in operation on Monday because it had broken down the previous month due to poor maintenance.
Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a chain of volcanic arcs and junctions of tectonic plates that are constantly moving. It is in the shape of a horseshoe and covers the east and west sides of the Pacific Ocean.
In Indonesia, seismic activity is caused by the Australia tectonic plate subducting or sliding under the Sunda plate. Many of the world’s most active earthquakes and volcanoes are in this area.
Sources:
Ibrahim, Achmad and Gelineau, Kristen. Mount Merapi volcano erupts again, Indonesia tsunami toll rises. American Press. October 28, 2010.
Seach, John. Volcano Live News. October 30, 2010.
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