Indonesia: Thousands refuse to flee volcano

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-05-2007 08:38

Mist rises from the forest covering the Mount Kelud volcano near the village of Sugih Waras near the town of Kediri in Indonesia's East Java province November 2, 2007. REUTERS/Sigit Pamungkas (INDONESIA)

In Indonesia 25-thousand villagers are refusing to leave their homes on the slopes of a killer volcano, despite warnings that the peak is poised for a powerful eruption.

Scientists monitoring Mount Kelud say the temperature of its crater lake has reached 76 degrees Celsius a rise of more than 25 degrees over the last 24 hours and that a blast is imminent.

Indonesian soldiers guard residents as they leave their houses for safety in Timika, Papua province, November 4, 2007. REUTERS/Yan Rafsanjani (INDONESIA)

The spike indicates that magma within the volcano is very close to breaking through. Despite the threat, authorities say some 25-thousand people are ignoring evacuation orders.

There has been no attempt to stop people travelling within a 10-kilometer zone around the peak that officials say is off-limits.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei