Tsunami, Volcano Kill 130 in Indonesia

One woman killed fleeing most powerful eruption so far

(NEWSER) - Indonesia's volatile Mount Merapi powerfully spewed smoke and ash into the air again today, killing one and forcing the military to evacuate the mountain's slope—in some cases, the AP notes, forcibly dragging screaming villagers away as the nation dealt with the latest natural disaster. The 21-minute eruption was followed by 350-some tremors and 33 ash burts. More»

(AP) - A volatile volcano in central Indonesia unleashed its most powerful eruption yet today, spewing hot ash and smoke thousands of feet into the air and sending panicked villagers racing back to emergency shelters. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Mount Lokon, located on northern Sulawesi island, has been dormant for years but rumbled back to life late last week. Surono, a government volcanologist who uses only one name, said today's 10:35am eruption released the greatest amount of energy so far, shooting soot and debris 11,400 feet into the sky. More»

No casualties reported after Mount Lokon explodes

(NEWSER) - Indonesia's Mount Lokon volcano suddenly blew its top yesterday, sending thousands of panicked residents fleeing down its slopes as ash, sand and rocks were thrown 5,000 feet in the air. Three powerful eruptions occurred in three hours, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, AP reports. Police and soldiers are helping evacuate people who live along the volcano's fertile slopes. More»

He may not get to deliver key speech because of volcano

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama will likely be forced to shorten what was already supposed to be a brief trip to his one-time home of Indonesia, thanks to the eruption of Mount Merapi. The trip was originally supposed to be a 24-hour affair, running from midday today to midday tomorrow, but now Obama’s likely to leave tomorrow morning, which could endanger what the Washington Post terms the “centerpiece” of the trip: a speech reaching out to Muslims at the University of Indonesia. More»

Death toll hits 141, Merapi could blow again

(NEWSER) - Indonesians are scrambling to get out of Mount Merapi's way today, as the death toll reached 141 and the volcano continued to belch gas clouds and threaten to erupt again at any moment. Overloaded trains carried twice their normal passengers out of the 400,000-strong city of Yogyakarta, some 20 miles away from the volcano, as ash had closed the nearest airport. "Based on what we're seeing now, it could erupt again any time," a volcanologist tells the AP. More»