Indonesia Evacuates After New Volcano Blast

One woman killed fleeing most powerful eruption so far
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 30, 2010 9:26 AM CDT
Indonesia Evacuates After New Volcano Blast
Mount Merapi spews volcanic smoke as seen from Cangkringan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010.    (Irwin Fedriansyah)

Indonesia's volatile Mount Merapi powerfully spewed smoke and ash into the air again today, killing one and forcing the military to evacuate the mountain's slope—in some cases, the AP notes, forcibly dragging screaming villagers away as the nation dealt with the latest natural disaster. The 21-minute eruption was followed by 350-some tremors and 33 ash burts.

And the worst may be yet to come, notes one volcano expert: Gas was apparently forming under high pressure behind a magna dome in the volcano, "setting the stage, potentially, for a more explosive eruption." (More Indonesia volcano stories.)

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