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USINDO BULLETIN

Yogyakarta Earthquake Bulletin #17
1700 hours, Eastern Time
Wednesday, June 14, 2006

As a convenience for USINDO members and friends, below is a roundup of earthquake and Mt. Merapi news. Please also see our daily FACTIVA news brief.

After saying yesterday that Mt. Merapi’s alert status has been downgraded, media reports this morning cite new volcanic activity overnight as the reason to reinstate the highest warning status. Hot clouds reportedly forced 1000 villagers to retreat to evacuation centers in Sleman district. A gaseous cloud traveled approximately 3 miles down the slope, almost enveloping one village and threatening several others.

Other reports indicate that parts of the volcano’s lava dome collapsed from 116 meters to 93 meters, thus lowering the risk of a large eruption. Vulcanology Institute officials added that the crater, which faces southward, would reduce the risk to the city of Yogyakarta and some areas of Magelang and Sleman districts.

On earthquake news, the World Bank-led Consultative Group of aid donors will be given detailed earthquake rehabilitation estimates today, June 14. The government has indicated that reconstruction will cost more than US$3 billion, far more than originally estimated; approximately half of this amount will be needed for new housing. The SBY administration will appeal for more financial help.

USINDO Summer Studies (SS) Program

Executive Director Katy Rys reports that several small tremors were felt in Yogyakarta in recent days. SS participants have settled in with host families. Students have been working on cleanup projects with the university staff.