Indonesian volcano imminent threat

Indonesian scientists warned Thursday that an eruption was imminent at a smouldering volcano on Java island despite an apparent slowdown in seismic activity.

Mount Kelut in East Java was put on top alert on Tuesday, meaning an eruption was possible within 24 hours, forcing the evacuation of about 116,000 people from the fertile plains surrounding the peak.

Volcanologist said that the temperature of water in the volcano's 15m deep crater had reached nearly 38 degrees Celsius. It was 40 degrees before the 1990 eruption. The increasing temperature means that magma inside the volcano is rising to the surface, the eruption is imminent.

Residents in at least four villages said the springs supplying their water had largely dried up since activity at the peak had surged.