MOUNT TALANG ERUPTS NEAR PADANG

After 40 years of dormancy, 2,896m Mount Talang erupted violently yesterday sending another wave of panic through Padang and the surroundings. Smoke and ash reached a height of 10,000m and the eruption was heard and felt over a wide area. Talang is a stratovolcano and experts say that there is a high risk of an explosive eruption. Villages in the vicinity of the mountain have been evacuated. No casualties have been reported. Mount Talang is about 35km SE of Padang and less than 10km from the city of Solok. Prevailing winds for this time of the year are from the SE to SW placing both cities in the ash footprint.

Many Padang residents have left the coastal capital over the past 2 days fearing a tsunami after the 6.8 quake on the 10th of April and those who are staying with family and friends in the Solok area must be wondering if anywhere is safe. Mount Talang initially released smoke and ash but last night lava flows were visible from the main highway between Solok and Padang.

Just north of Solok, Lake Sinkarak water levels have been dropping since the quake and there are serious concerns that the hydro electric power plants that tap the lake’s run-off may be affected.

Mid way between Solok and Bukittinggi, Mount Merapi (2,891m) is belching smoke and steam. Talang and Merapi lie on the same major fault line and clearly the recent Mentawai quake has reactivated these long peaceful volcanoes.

Economic activity in Padang has virtually ceased. Schools and Universities are closed, hotels are empty, Government offices are running on skeleton staff or shut. Many multistory buildings are considered unsafe as a result of quake and aftershock damage. Constant tremors associated with the volcanic activity now add to the tension.

Padang (750,000) has experienced multiple panics since the Dec 26th mega quake.

Rumors of rising water, false tsunami alarms and the more recent quakes have stressed the population and slowed construction projects. A large proportion of the population have headed inland to Solok and Bukittinggi where they are now living in the shadow of a chain of giant volcanoes.