Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Quake could trigger Merapi eruption

Indonesian volcanologists say that theoretically and statistically earthquakes increase chances of an eruption by an active volcano.

"Because a volcano's activities are linked to its system of fluid dynamics, any temblor would certainly have an effect," said Gede Suwantika, head of the volcano monitoring office in Yogyakarta, Java.

"Statistically, this rising activity is already shown by the much higher frequency of heat clouds emitted by Merapi during the post-earthquake period."

The 6.3 shaker left some 200,000 people homeless, most not more than 20 miles from the volcano.

Merapi emitted 86 lava trails and 88 heat clouds on Monday, according to the volcanology office.


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