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