Project News

Field visit at Putih River

On July 24th, Mr.Izumi Arai, JICA Vice-President; Mr.Shigenori Ogawa, Mr.Jitsuya Ishiguro, Senior Representative JICA Indonesia Office; and Mr.Toshiyasu Ueno, JICA Expert; etc. visited Mt.Merapi. At that area, it became already dry season, and debris flow hasn't occurred since early May although it frequently occurred during rainy season.

Around Gendol River (12 Km away from the crater), deposition of pyroclastic flow was spread in a wide range. Flood disaster at the lower stream due to further debris flow along with rainfall is a big concern.

At Putih River, some effect could be seen such as PU-D2 Sabo Dam which locates 8 Km away from the crater caught debris flow occurred after eruptions. However, because large volume of volcanic product deposition at the upper stream repeatedly flowed down as debris flow, flood disaster occurred in everywhere for example at the place which is 17 Km away from the crater where national road crosses over the River.

At mountainside of Mt.Merapi, massive volcanic product has been still in deposition. Therefore we need to grasp promptly about new sediment flow sources through continuous observation of geographic changes.