Mount Kelud Has Not Erupted?

By Jakarta correspondent Geoff Thompson

Posted 9 hours 23 minutes ago

East Java's Mount Kelud volcano is continuing to show signs it could erupt at any moment, as nearby residents ignore warnings to stay away from the area.

Scientists are worried and baffled by the fact that Mt Kelud has not exploded despite its crater lake reaching temperatures four times higher than the last time it erupted in 1990.

Instead, an island-like crust has formed, permitting a slower release of pressure.

"This could go on, or it could be that the volcano is keeping its energy for a bigger eruption," vulcanologist Saut Simatupang warns.

The uncertainty is making it harder to persuade evacuated residents against returning to their property.

Mt Kelud's past eruptions have killed at least 15,000 people.