Citizens Asked to Beware of Cold Lahar Flood

Communities in the western peak of Mount Merapi alert to possible flooding prompted a cold lava flow in several rivers that disgorge the volcano on the border of Central Java's Yogyakarta Special Region. "Residents must comply with the provisions of the dangers of cold lava flow in several rivers," said Secretary of Local Government of Magelang District Utoyo, in Magelang, Central Java, on Saturday (13/11).
A number of rivers that disgorge groove on Mount Merapi in local areas, among others,  Kali Pabelan, Senowo, Lamat, Kali Blongkeng, Kali Bebeng, and Kali Putih. The rain that often flushed the region in recent days have resulted in a number of river channel flood of cold lava by the local people called the "flood ladhu".
Flow of water in addition to carrying the volcanic material from Merapi also fallen branches and trees. Various check dams on local rivers flow to the present is full of Merapi volcanic material. A number of crews operating reckless truck transporting sand from a river filled with material Merapi and mined by some local residents.
"Under the terms of Volcanology Agency, until now the community has not been allowed to move at a distance of about 300 meters from the river channel, because it could happen at any time cold lava flood," he said. Based on observation, sand mining activities of Merapi seen among others in the river Pabelan, Senowo, and Lamat.
Status of the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi, to the still at the highest level of alert. Shot of the hot cloud, glide lava, ash rain, and cold lava floods still occur since the first eruption of Merapi on October 26, 2010.
Most of the residents of various villages that are relatively close to the peak of Merapi are still displaced in various places that are relatively safe. However, a minority of them had returned from evacuation to local villages to look after cattle, cleaning the house from the ashes, and community service cleaning the streets of Merapi volcanic ash.
At night they return to the camps, but others kept vigil in their respective hamlets such as the Village Ngargomulyo, Sumber, Keningar, Mangunsoko, Paten, Krinjing, District Dukun.

Obama lauds Indonesia as a model of religious tolerance

Indonesia and the United States share principles of unity and tolerance and both can benefit from strengthened ties that will bolster trade and combat terrorism, President Obama said in a highly anticipated speech Wednesday.

As the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia was chosen as the site for Obama to further address U.S. relations with the Islamic world following his speech on the topic last year in Cairo, Egypt.

I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust," Obama said. At the same time, he promised that "no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress."

America "is not, and never will be, at war with Islam," Obama insisted. "Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion - certainly not a great world religion like Islam."

Indonesia volcano death toll tops 200

The death toll from the recent eruptions of Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has reached 206 and nearly 400,000 people have had to flee their homes, a national disaster official said Friday.

Mount Merapi, which looms on the horizon north of the major city of Yogyakarta, erupted October 26. It is located on the island of Java.

"Rescue workers recovered more bodies in the villages," said Haartje Robert Winerungan of the National Disaster Coordination Agency. "In total, there are 150 victims burned to death."

In addition, he said, a total of "380,049 people are still displaced in around Yogyakarta and Central Java."

Disaster officials said Thursday the worst may be over, but a danger zone remains within a 20-kilometer (12.2-mile) radius of the volcano.

Flights returned to normal Monday, but U.S. President Barack Obama was forced to cut short his visit to Indonesia this week because of the volcano's ash cloud.

Merapi's recent eruptions have released about 140 million cubic meters (4.9 million cubic feet) of magma, the disaster agency said. The previous record flow occurred in 1872, at 100 million cubic meters (3.5 million cubic feet). Magma is a mixture of molten rock, solid particles and other material found beneath the earth's surface.

Government volcanology experts have kept Merapi's alert level at 4, the highest.

On Wednesday, the Merapi Disaster Health Team said the recent eruptions have seriously injured 145 people and left scores of others less severely hurt.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called the volcano eruptions a crisis situation. Over the weekend, he and several of his ministers visited Yogyakarta to oversee relief efforts.

The volcano has a summit elevation of nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes and lies in one of the world's most densely populated areas.

About 1,300 people died when Merapi erupted in 1930.

Many people continue to live in the shadow of the volcano, raising crops and livestock.

The president has announced that residents will receive compensation for livelihoods and animals lost to the eruptions. The government will buy endangered cows on the volcano, Yudhoyono said. Many of those who live on its slopes risked their lives by staying or returning to feed their cows during lulls in the volcanic activity.