Explosions in Indonesia (1)

It was probably Merapi which covered Borobudur in the year 1006. And during the Twentieth Century, Merapi erupted about once every five years, and killed almost two thousand people.

Jakarta Kid: 41. BANDUNG CONFERENCE

We ascended a path that took us to near the top of a volcano called Tangkuban Prahu. We peered into the crater and saw strands of smoke rising from grey ash. I was really enjoying myself.

"About one hundred miles from here," said Robert, "you get Mount Gulunggung. It erupted in 1982 and went on erupting until 1984. The sky went dark. Cars in Bandung had to have their headlights on during the day. Lots of houses were destroyed. And two Jumbo jets nearly crashed because of the dust."

"You live awfully near to an awful lot of volcanoes," I pointed out.

"Gulunggung had been dormant for centuries. Then bang!" Robert was not smiling.

On the way back to the centre of Bandung, Robert instructed me about the dangers of Mount Merapi, near Yogyakarta. It was probably Merapi which had covered Borobudur in the year 1006. And during the Twentieth Century, Merapi had erupted about once every five years, and had killed almost two thousand people.


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