"We heard roaring sounds and even explosions from Mt Merapi`s bowels at 20.00 and 21.45 local time more than ten times," said Sutan Palimo, a resident of Nagari Kubang Putih village, Banuhampu subdistrict, Agam district, on Friday.
But an officer of the Bukittinggi Geological Survey and Disaster Mitigation Center, Warseno, said there was no need for local residents to worry too much because the rumblings did not mean the volcano was about to erupt.
The volcano began to show signs of increased activity last August 3, 2011 at around 09.00 local time. It sent volcanic ashes up to 1,000 meters into the sky and winds later carried them to other parts of West Sumatra such as Agam, Tanahdatar, Padang Pariaman, and Padang Panjang.
The volcano last erupted in 2005. Under normal conditions, the mountain attracts many domestic and foreign climbers.
(Uu.SDP-13/HAJMS012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
