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Indonesian volcano 'has erupted' Indonesia volcano 'did not erupt'
(about 10 hours later)
Indonesia's Mount Kelud volcano appears to have erupted, a top official has said, based on seismographic signals. Indonesia's Mount Kelud volcano has not erupted, government scientists have said, contradicting an earlier statement that it had.
Monitoring instruments had indicated an eruption, but it could not be visually confirmed because of heavy cloud cover.
Escalating tremors had prompted scientists monitoring the volcano near the crater to leave the mountain.
The scientists later returned to their posts to find no eruption actually occurred and their equipment undamaged.
"There was no eruption," said Surono, a senior government volcanologist.
"If there had been an eruption, our equipment near the crater would have been damaged."
High alert
An estimated 350,000 people live within 10km (6 miles) of the volcano on the island of Java, about 90km (55 miles) south-west of the city of Surabaya.An estimated 350,000 people live within 10km (6 miles) of the volcano on the island of Java, about 90km (55 miles) south-west of the city of Surabaya.
There were no immediate reports of casualties and the area is shrouded in fog, blocking the view of the volcano.
A volcanologist said escalating tremors indicated the first eruption was at 1615 local time (0915 GMT).
The volcano last erupted in 1990, killing dozens of people.The volcano last erupted in 1990, killing dozens of people.
'Over the scale'
The authorities have been monitoring the peak in East Java for several weeks and raised its alert status to the highest level about two weeks ago as its activity increased.The authorities have been monitoring the peak in East Java for several weeks and raised its alert status to the highest level about two weeks ago as its activity increased.
Armed police last month evacuated more than 100,000 people from the slopes of Mount Kelud - but many later returned to their villages, while others refused to leave.Armed police last month evacuated more than 100,000 people from the slopes of Mount Kelud - but many later returned to their villages, while others refused to leave.
Saut Simatupang, an official at Indonesia's Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, told Reuters news agency: "There is heavy cloud over there, so even ash could not be seen.
"But instrumentally it has erupted, as shown by the seismographic records that were over the scale."
In 1919 about 5,000 people died when the volcano erupted, ejecting scalding water from its crater lake and destroying hundreds of villages.In 1919 about 5,000 people died when the volcano erupted, ejecting scalding water from its crater lake and destroying hundreds of villages.
Indonesia, part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is frequently shaken by earth tremors and volcanoes.Indonesia, part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is frequently shaken by earth tremors and volcanoes.
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