Mt. Merapi Central Java Update
 

I'm sure there was an earlier thread about Merapi but I couldn't find it. Anyway here's last week's notice from the US State Department. The alert has since risen to the highest level. Anyone planning Yogya or Borobudur in the near future should check with their embassy/consulate for advice.

U.S. Embassy Jakarta
U.S. Consulate General Surabaya
Warden Message
May 12, 2006

The U.S. Embassy informs Americans in Indonesia that as of May 12, 2006 the Indonesian Center for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation still maintains the alert status for Mt. Merapi Volcano in Central Java at Level 3. Authorities have stated that volcanic activity is increasing and that they may raise the alert status to Level 4 soon. Level 4 means an eruption is imminent and people should evacuate the area near the volcano immediately. On May 11, Indonesia's Vice President ordered local authorities to begin evacuation of people living in villages closest to the volcano.

The Embassy urges Americans to avoid all areas within a 12-kilometer (7.5 mile) radius of Mt. Merapi and to obey all instructions from Indonesian authorities in the volcano zone. Authorities have forbidden climbing on Mt. Merapi until further notice, and advised miners and local residents to evacuate all areas near the mountain.

As of May 12, 2006 Indonesian vulcanology experts do not consider the city of Yogyakarta to be in danger from lava flows when Mt. Merapi erupts. However, Americans residing in or visiting Yogyakarta should be aware that smoke and ash could disrupt air travel when Mt. Merapi erupts. Some people may experience respiratory difficulties from heavy smoke and ash in the air.

Updated information on volcanoes in Indonesia is available on the websites listed below. The Embassy encourages all Americans residing in or visiting areas near volcanoes to consult these websites frequently and to adhere to all safety instructions from Indonesian authorities.

http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/portal/html/index.php
http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/general_info/index.htm
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov

The Embassy reminds Americans that the information in the November 18, 2005 Travel Warning for Indonesia and in recent warden messages remains valid. All security-related Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, recent Embassy warden messages, and registration information are posted on the Embassy's website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.

Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General Surabaya or the U.S. Consular Agent in Bali. Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission's contact with Americans in emergency situations, and may be done on line and in advance of travel. Information on registering can be found at the Department of State's Consular Affairs website: https://travelregistration.state.gov.

The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 021-3435-9000. The telephone number of the Consulate General in Surabaya is 031-295-6400; the telephone number of the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali is 0361-233-605.

Thanks Marmot for your update. We already posponed our trip to Central Java due to this situation. I hope Indonesia´s gov. reacts promptly to evacuate people since we already (back in 1982) suffered from a Volvano Eruption near home (mainly ash eruption) and it was a terrorific experience. I think honestly that other fodorites should detour now. thks

Thanks for posting Marmot. My original post on this seems to have disappeared. I can't recall any content in it which would cause the overly sensitive Fodors editors to pull it though.

I leave for SEA on Thursday and am due to arrive in Yogya this coming Saturday. I have no plans to change anything at this time. I've been in contact with the Amanjiwo and they say it's business as usual. From everything I can gather, we will be far enough away from any danger unless this thing erupts in Pompeii proportions. I guess when we get to Bangkok on Friday, we will assess the situation. Everything is all booked and paid for and I'm not changing my plans unless I absolyutely have to.

Laurie, I've been keeping up to date on Merpati and thinking about your trip. I have to say if it were me, I'd be doing the same thing you are doing. Have a fabulous time!

Thanks Kathie. I just read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald and the experts in Indonesia (I guess the vulcanologists and others who study these things) said that neither Borobudur nor Yogya were in imminent danger.

Laurie,

Hope you folks have a safe trip to the Amanjiwo. Also hope the wind is blowing in the right direction so the ash doesn't ruin your trip. The real danger from a volcano like Merapi is the gas and ash. Check for a clear way out as soon when you get there. Be safe and good luck!!
A good volcano always makes the "vacation" more exciting, take plenty of pics especially at sunsets and sunrises. They can be spectacular during an eruption. :)

Aloha!

Have a great time, Laurieco. And yes, we will all be expecting some phenominal pictures!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4985086.stm

Some very interesting firsthand comments from people in the area at the end of this BBC article.

Although the mountain seems to have calmed down a bit today (May 16) I wouldn't underestimate the potential disruptive effect of an eruption on Central Java as a whole. As others have mentioned volcanic ash can travel great distances and cause severe problems.

You should definitely call the US Embassy in Jakarta or the consulate in Surabaya when you get to Bangkok.

Thanks for the good wishes. I think checking in with the US embassy in Indonesia is a very good idea. While I have no plans to change anything at this point, of course we will be closely monitoring the situation and if it looks like we can be in real danger, we will adapt our itinerary. When we were in Costa Rica, Aernal erupted a few times and we were no farther away from that when it happened then we will be from Merapi. There was no danger to us and to be honest, seeing it was a highlight of the trip. I don't think the eruption was all that huge however.

I just registered my trip (the Indonesia portion anyway) on the US State Dept's web site. Marmot, do you think I need to call the embassy as well?

laurie, two separate things. The US State Department likes Americans to register with them when they are in country so they can locate them in the event that something bad happens.

What I'd suggest you do is call the Embassy or the Consulate just before you leave Thailand and get their updated opinion on travel in Central Java. They tend to very conservative and Indonesians who have a stake in the travel business tend to be very positive. At the end of the day, you have to decide on your own comfort level, but it's good to have a balanced viewpoint.

Thanks marmot. The latest reports say the volcano has calmed down, at least for the time being. Unless the cone collapses and there is a massive eruption, I plan on going. I just want the State Dept to know where I am just in case. So far, the State Dept consular sheets have not been telling people to stay away. The same general warning about Indonesia is still there but nothing telling people not to go to Central Java because of the volcano.

We arrive on the 31st May and will follow all info till then I have a google alert set up on Mt Merapi but as yet nothing I have seen has deterred us. Have also registered that part of our trip with the Aus Govt but will assess when in Bali the week before. Please send info if you can while you are there. Thanks Lyn