Lava continued to flow from Indonesia's erupting Mount Merapi today but efforts to evacuate residents living in its shadow slowed as the volcano showed signs of calming down, scientists said.
"It has calmed down today. The weather is clear and there were only four small outflows of lava earlier this morning," vulcanologist Sunarto said.
He said lava ran 1.5 kilometers (0.93) miles down Merapi's slopes for almost an hour and half starting at 7:30 a.m. (0030 GMT)today, towards the Sat river.
Merapi's danger level was lifted to "alert", meaning an eruption is imminent, yesterday after it belched heat clouds and hot lava that ran as 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) down its slopes, forcing the evacuation of some 12,000 people from nine villages at the foot of the volcano.
"Evacuation efforts have temporarily stopped since many of the villagers have returned home ... but there is still a chance for a bigger explosion" from the 2,914-metre (9,616-feet) volcano, Mr Sunarto said.
Sand-miners living along the banks of the Sat and Senowo rivers have been ordered to evacuate their homes, he added.
AFP