Merapi eruption - November 1994, Indonesia

On the morning of the 24 November 1994, a lava dome with a volume of 2.6 million m³ collapsed over a 7 hour period, producing pyroclastic flows that travelled up to 6.5 km to the south. The flows killed 64 people in the Boyong valley close to the communities of Turgo and Kaliurang. Lahars were also generated as a consequence of heavy rainfall falling on unconsolidated ash deposits¹. In response to the fatalities, a 10 km stretch of the Boyong river was evacuated, leading to 6,000 people being housed in temporary accommodation. In addition, a further 2,700 people from communities located at high elevations on the volcano were permanently resettled¹,².

The production of pyroclastic flows due to explosive eruptions and dome collapses continued until mid-1998, with major events occurring on 11 and 19 July, but with no further casualties².

¹ ReliefWeb. 1994. Indonesia Volcanic Eruption Nov 1994 UN DHA Information Reports 1-4
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACOS-64CN8U?OpenDocument

² Voight, B, Constantine, E.K, Siswowidjoyo, S & Torley, R. 2000. Historical Eruptions of Merapi Volcano, Central Java, Indonesia, 1768-1998. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. Vol. 100, pp 69-138