Mount Merapi, located on the island of Java in Indonesia, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Known as the 'mountain of fire', it has erupted 68 times since the sixteenth century. The 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi was the volcano's largest since 1872.
The Eruption
On the afternoon of October 25, 2010, Mount Merapi erupted on its southern and southeastern slopes. The eruption lasted until November 30, 2010. During this period, the volcano erupted three times, with thousands of people evacuated from a 20km radius around the slopes of the volcano. The column of smoke rose vertically to 1.5km, and pyroclastic activity began to subside.
The 2010 eruption was 4 on the volcanic explosivity index (VEI), slightly larger than the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull. The eruption released around 50 million cubic meters of volcanic material, a significant amount that had a profound impact on the surrounding environment.
Impact and Aftermath
The eruption caused widespread devastation. Over 350,000 people were evacuated from the affected area. Many others remained behind or returned to their homes while the eruptions were continuing. A total of 353 people were killed during the eruptions, many as a result of pyroclastic flows.
The eruption also had a significant environmental impact. The release of 50 million cubic meters of volcanic material altered the landscape dramatically. The ash plumes from the volcano caused major disruptions to aviation across Java.
The 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi was a significant event in the history of volcanic eruptions. The release of such a large amount of volcanic material had a profound impact on the local population and the environment. Despite the devastation, the event provided valuable insights into the behavior of one of the world's most active volcanoes, contributing to our understanding of these powerful natural phenomena.
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