Mount Merapi spewed out hot clouds of gas and ash again on Monday, the third time since it first erupted a week ago.

Clouds of hot ash and gas billowed up to 1.5 kilometers into the atmosphere, before cascading  back down up to 4 kilometers around the slopes of Merapi, as booming explosions were heard, prompting residents to panic and rush for shelters.

The latest eruption began around 10 a.m. and sent an uninterrupted stream of smoke clouds into the
air for 40 minutes, heading southward toward a nearby river in Sleman regency.

The latest explosion took with it an estimated 2 million cubic meters of rock and earth from the peak, experts say.

“At the time of explosion we were around Gondang village. When the hot clouds were spotted, we rushed down and warned people who had returned home during the lull in volcanic activity,” one refugee, Samidi, said.

Another refugee, Hambali, said he had forgotten to lock his house when he fled.

“I was feeding the cows but fled immediately. I did not lock the door and forgot to bring a change of clothes with me,” he said.

Merapi’s sudden eruption on Monday were unlike its previous eruptions, as no warning signals had indicated the eruption would occur.

“All of a sudden it just went boom! Compared to the eruptions in 1962, this one has been stronger,” said Dalimin, another refugee.

At Wukirsari alert post, two school buildings have been converted into shelters.

“Some who previously felt safe have now fled their homes for shelter. The shelters are crowded now,” Dalimin said.

Based on data from the disaster coordination team, up to 18,000 people were taking refuge at shelters on Sunday.

“The number of refugees is definitely increasing, and it is difficult for us to provide more space. Several villages where people were unperturbed by the eruptions have now begun to join the shelters,” Pratno, a member of the disaster management team, said.

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry geological division chief R. Sukhyar said the ejection of 2 million cubic meters of volcanic material from the peak had created a vent for magma to escape.

“Previously, the magma was forcing its way out. That should make conditions less frightening for future eruptions,” he said, adding that much of the molten lava had yet to push its way out and more hot clouds were likely.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that with magma vent now formed, the likelihood of further volcanic tremors had declined.

“Volcanic tremors are triggered by out-forcing magma,” agency chief Surono said, without ruling out the possibility of more eruptions.

“It is worthy to note that Merapi is not racing in a sprint but marathon, because this process takes time,” he said.

The local administration of Sleman regency has increased its humanitarian aid allocation from Rp 4 billion (US$448,000) to Rp 21 billion.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said his administration would work with Sleman officials in dealing with the disaster.

“Funds can be reallocated for the Merapi disaster,” he said.

“If questioned … how much the fund is, I say it’s limitless because we don’t know when emergency period will end. It depends on what Merapi does,” he said.

The eruptions, which have claimed 38 lives, have also affected thousands of schoolchildren.

Many children, suffering trauma from the eruption, have chosen not to attend school. Meanwhile, the local education office has yet to set up temporary learning centers at refugee camps.

Suyamsih, the head of Sleman education office, said the disaster had temporarily closed schools for more than 3,000 students.

“We have encouraged displaced students to attend schools close to their shelters,” Suyamsih said.

“But it is difficult to follow because many of the shelters are located far from the schools.”

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