•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Yogyakarta. Lahar, the cold volcanic debris flowing down the slopes of Mount Merapi, is not only threatening houses and infrastructure but also archeological sites, a geologist said on Tuesday.

Subandrio, head of the Volcano Investigation and Technology Development Institution (BPPTK), said a team of geologists and archaeologists was evaluating the physical condition of temples located near the paths of the lahar runoff from Merapi.

“According to a letter from the Archaeological Heritage Conservation Center of Central Java, we have to give particular attention to the safety of Prambanan Temple and other temples in the complex,” he said.

Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple complex and a Unesco World Heritage site.

The Archaeological Heritage Conservation Center (BPPP) has asked the BPPTK to carefully monitor lahar flows near the temples. Three geophones, which can detect vibrations caused by lava flows, have been put in place as an early warning system.

“The temples are likely to be damaged by the lahar flows, considering there are about 50 million cubic meters of volcanic material in the upstream areas of the Gendol and Opak rivers,” Subandrio said.

The two rivers are located on the southeast and eastern slopes of Merapi. The Opak is about 100 meters from the Prambanan temple complex.

Tri Hatmaji, head of the Central Java office of the BPPP, said the eruptions of Merapi and the lahar flows could damage at least four temple complexes.

“Right now we are really concerned about the lahar floods threatening the Sengi Temple complex in Magelang and the Prambanan Temple complex in Klaten,” he said.

Gatot Eko Nurcahyo, head of archaeological heritage preservation planning affairs at the BPPP, said lahar threatened to reach the Lumbung, Asu and Pendem temples in the Sengi complex, which is very close to the Pabelan River in Magelang.

The Pabelan is about 25 kilometers from the Putih River, where the most severe lahar flows have occurred.

“The yard of the Sengi Temple complex is only two meters from the banks of the Pabelan River, which continue to be eroded by the lahar,” he said.

“Embankments and dams on the Pabelan River have been destroyed by the lahar, threatening the stability of the soil structure of the temple complex, which may eventually hit the foundation of the temple itself.”

In the Prambanan complex, the Sewu, Bubrah and Roro Jonggrang temples are vulnerable to lahar overflow from the Opak River, he said.