Soothsayers Wrong

Seems the Soothsayers were wrong about Mount Kelud erupting in "the next seven days." This prediction was made on or about November 7th, meaning the mountain in Indonesia should have erupted by now...

Mount Kelut (Kelud)

The relatively inconspicuous, 1731-m-high Kelut stratovolcano contains a summit crater lake that has been the source of some of Indonesia's most deadly eruptions. A cluster of summit lava domes cut by numerous craters has given the summit a very irregular profile. Satellitic cones and lava domes are also located low on the eastern, western, and SSW flanks. Eruptive activity has in general migrated in a clockwise direction around the summit vent complex. More than 30 eruptions have been recorded from Gunung Kelut since 1000 AD. The ejection of water from the crater lake during Kelut's typically short, but violent eruptions has created pyroclastic flows and lahars that have caused widespread fatalities and destruction. After more than 5000 persons were killed during an eruption in 1919, an ambitious engineering project sought to drain the crater lake. This initial effort lowered the lake by more than 50 m, but the 1951 eruption deepened the crater by 70 m, leaving 50 million cubic meters of water after repair of the damaged drainage tunnels. After more than 200 deaths in the 1966 eruption, a new deeper tunnel was constructed, and the lake's volume before the 1990 eruption was only about 1 million cubic meters.

Washington Post: Pacific "Ring of Fire"

This week's display by Anak Krakatau _ or "Child of Krakatau" _ is impressive, yet it is a mere sneeze when compared to the blast in August 1883 that obliterated its "father" in the most powerful explosion in recorded history.

That blast was heard as far away as 2,500 miles and choked the atmosphere with ash and dust, altering weather patterns for years. Some 36,000 people were killed in the eruptions and ensuing tsunamis.

Now the 985-foot peak growing from the ocean where Krakatau once stood is erupting, one of several Indonesian volcanoes that have roared to life in recent weeks.

Eruption Risk of Mount Kelud Downgraded

Indonesia (Reuters) - Authorities have lowered the alert level on Indonesia's steaming Mount Kelud volcano because of a decline in its activity and advised people to return to their homes, a government official said on Thursday.

Indonesia's volcanology centre had raised the alert status of the deadly volcano on the densely populated Java island to the highest level about two weeks ago and asked people living on or near its slopes to evacuate as an eruption appeared imminent.

"The alert is downgraded to the second highest due to less intense activity," said Umar Rosadi, a volcanology centre official monitoring Kelud.

Soothsayers Predict Eruption of Mount Kelud in Next Seven Days

KEDIRI, East Java (JP): With volcanologists apparently unable to determine the exact day Mount Kelud will erupt, villagers in the area have turned to local mystics and soothsayers for their opinions.

While their predictions have been varied, they do all seem to agree on one thing: The mountain will erupt in the next seven days.

Workers Trying to Finish Dams Below Mount Kelud

MOUNT KELUD, Indonesia

Workers were rushing to complete a system of dams at one of Indonesia's deadliest volcanos, fearing an eruption could send a wave of superheated mud, rock and ash surging down its slopes.

Volcanologists have warned that Mount Kelud on densely populated Java island is on the verge of a major eruption, with highly pressurized magma forming under its crater lake and smoke clouds shooting a kilometer (half mile) into the sky.

Cement dams up to 20 meters (65 feet) high and six meters (20 feet) thick have been under construction for several months to channel the possible hot mud flows away from villages.

{Associated Press}

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.

Mount Kelud Erupts

Indonesia's Mount Kelud Volcano Erupts, Spews Ash (Update1)

By Karima Anjani

Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia's Mount Kelud volcano in Java began erupting around dawn today, the country's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Agency said.

Kelud spewed white ash as high as 500 meters, Saut Simatupang, head of the agency, said today in a telephone interview. ``The eruption isn't over,'' Simatupang said. ``What we saw this morning was a small eruption.''

Mount Kelud, Indonesia Did Not Erupt

World Updates
November 3, 2007
MYT 1:00:32 AM

Indonesia officials deny Mt Kelud erupted
By Heri Retnowati

SUGIHWARAS, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia's volcano centre said Mount Kelud in East Java has not erupted, as earlier reported on Saturday.

"There was no eruption. If there had been an eruption, our equipment near the crater would have been damaged," said Surono, head of the Centre for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

Mount Kelud, Indonesia Erupting

MOUNT KELUD, Indonesia - One of Indonesia's deadliest volcanos began erupting Saturday, but there was no visual confirmation of activity because the peak was cloaked in dense fog, a senior government volcanologist said.

Seismic readings showed Mt. Kelud was erupting, said Saut Simatupang, a leading scientist with Indonesia's Volcanology Center. The mountain was put on high alert several weeks ago and tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the area.