Indonesia's most dangerous volcano ready to erupt - local authorities

JAKARTA. October 22. KAZINFORM The Indonesian Center for Volcanology has issued a third-degree warning on the possible eruption of the Merapi volcano in densely populated central Java, local media reported on Friday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Merapi is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia and has produced more lava flows than any other volcano in the world. It has been active for 10,000 years and has registered eruptions on average every four years.

"The status of Merapi was raised on September 21 from the second degree 'warning' to the third degree 'expectation,' and all activities in the threatened area around the volcano will be banned for safety reasons," said Surono, the head of the Center for Volcanology.

The official said the volcano's activity had been rapidly increasing, accompanied by tremors and frequent lava spills; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

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