MOUNT MERAPI ERUPTION PREPAREDNESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 005483 SIPDIS SIPDIS AIDAC DEPT FOR OPS CENTER, EAP/MTS, DS, S/ES-O/CMS, EAP/EX, EAP/PD, CA/OCS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/IP, DS/DSS, ITA, ID/IP, ITA, OES/IET, AND OES/ETC E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC SENV PGOV ID SUBJECT: MOUNT MERAPI ERUPTION PREPAREDNESS ¶1. Summary. Embassy held a meeting on May 1 to discuss preparedness for a possible eruption of Mount Merapi Volcano, 27 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta in central Java. The volcano went on level 3 orange alert (ready to erupt) on April 12 and could threaten 200,000 people in the hazard zone and possibly disrupt civil aviation. The increased volcanic activity could result in three scenarios: a large eruption as happened in 1930; a smaller eruption as happened in 1994, which killed 68 people; or continued seismic and other activity without an eruption. The situation remains uncertain. Embassy has issued two warden notices (April 13 and 28) and plans a third one on May 5. About 200 American Citizens (AmCits) live in the Yogyakarta area. USAID has provided USD 50,000 to help with emergency preparedness including evacuation centers and supplies. The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has contact with local authorities. A visiting U.S. Geological Survey team, working with local authorities, monitors the volcano's activity. The Indonesian Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM),the official outlet for public information on the volcano, has updated its website (see para 3 below). End Summary. ¶2. The DCM led a meeting to discuss preparedness for an expected eruption of Mount Merapi Volcano in Central Java. In a worst-case scenario, the volcano, located about 27 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta, could threaten 200,000 people in the hazard zone and disrupt civil aviation. The city of Yogyakarta and its surrounding special region have a population of about 3.3 million. Mount Merapi Volcano on Level 3 Alert -------------- ¶3. Indonesians authorities placed Mount Merapi Volcano on a level 3 or orange alert (ready to erupt) on April 12 after recording an increase in seismic and other activity. The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM),Yogyakarta Investigation and Development of Volcanology Technology Office (BPPTK) and Merapi Volcano Observatory (MVO) urged tourists and others not to climb the mountain and local governments to prepare for an eruption. They advised miners and local residents to avoid coming within an eight-kilometer radius of Merapi's summit. The CVGHM serves as the official outlet for public information on the volcano and has an updated website at: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/portal/html/index.p hp http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/general_info/index. htm ¶4. The increased activity of Mount Merapi Volcano could result in the following three scenarios: -- A large eruption as happened in 1930 when 1369 people died. -- A smaller eruption perhaps on the scale of the 1994 eruption that killed 68 people. -- Continued seismic and other activity without an eruption. The situation remains uncertain and impossible to predict. USG Preparedness Activities -------------- ¶5. Embassy issued warden notices via internet, e-mail and cell phone on April 13 and 28. See www.usembassyjakarta.org. We have notified the 200 registered American citizens, both private and official, living in the Yogyakarta area. ConGen Surabaya maintains updated contact information for these AmCits. The Embassy will issue a new warden message on May 5 and ensure major tourist hotels in Yogyakarta know of the danger. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) team arrived in Indonesia on April 25 to work with the Indonesian geological authorities to monitor the volcano's activity. The USG through USAID has provided USD 50,000 to the International Federation of the JAKARTA 00005483 002 OF 002 Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies for preparedness efforts including evacuation centers and supplies. The Indonesian Red Cross has a fully staffed 24-hour Merapi monitoring post. USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) remains in close contact with the Indonesian Red Cross, local authorities and the CVGHM. PASCOE