Sileri Crater Erupts, Injuring Dozens

From the Jakarta Globe, 2/07/2017

Jakarta. A volcano in Central Java popular with tourists unexpectedly erupted on Sunday (02/07), injuring dozens of people and forcing authorities to evacuate residents and close the area to all visitors.

Sileri Crater on the Dieng Plateau was spewing cold lava, ash and mud, National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said, as quoted by state-run news agency Antara.

Ash from the eruption was blasted up to 50 meters into the sky, reports said.

Sutopo said the eruption occurred at about 11.30 a.m. while dozens of visitors were near the crater. Ten people suffered injuries and were admitted to hospital."No one died," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Military personnel and police officers were dispatched to the area, while local authorities closed the crater for tourists and told residents to evacuate.

Sileri, around 2,000 meters above sea level, is one of the most active out of 10 craters at the Dieng Plateau, a resort area in Banjarnegara, Central Java, and a favorite of local tourists for its cool temperature and ninth-century Hindu temples.
Sileri last erupted in 2009, spewing volcanic materials as high as 200 meters into the sky.

A major incident took place back in 1979 when more than 140 people were asphyxiated by poisonous gas from the nearby Sinila Crater.


From the same source,

Jakarta. A helicopter used by the National Search and Rescue Agency, or Basarnas, to monitor the Sileri Crater eruptionin the Dieng Plateau has reportedly gone missing on Sunday (02/07), leaving the fate of eight people on board unknown.

Basarnas operations deputy Heronimus Guru confirmed to BeritaSatu News Channel on Sunday the missing helicopter belongs to Basarnas.

He said the helicopter was initially used to monitor post-Lebaran traffic, but was diverted to monitor the unexpected eruption at Sileri Crater.

He said the helicopter reportedly lost contact at 04.04 p.m.. It was carrying eight crew, including four Basarnas rescuers.
Various reports on social media said a helicopter was found crushed and severely damaged in Canggal Bulu, a village in Candiroto, a hilly area in Temanggung, Central Java
.
There has been no official confirmation from the Basarnas on this report.



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