Mt. Slamet alert status lowered

PURWOKERTO: After almost two months on red alert (level 3), the status of Mt. Slamet, the largest volcano in Java, has been lowered to a cautionary status (level 2), an official said Wednesday.

Sukedi, head of the volcano monitoring post in Pemalang regency, Central Java, said the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center in Bandung lowered the status of Mt. Slamet on Tuesday.

The center informed the regencies around the volcano, such as Banyumas, Purbalingga, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes of this downgrade following a sharp decrease in tremors, quakes and eruptions. "The status could be lowered again to a normal level depending on the development of activities later," Sukedi said. - JP