Government observers warned yesterday that Indonesia's Mount Merapi remained a danger to villagers living on its slopes despite an easing of volcanic activity at the mountain.

Merapi was still spitting lava, gas and clouds of ash as thousands of farmers left government shelters to tend crops, milk cows and feed livestock.

The 3,000-metre volcano has been rocked by a series of spectacular eruptions since May 13, but residents have complained of poor conditions at shelters.

Sugiono, one of the government observers watching Merapi around the clock, said that its crater continued to ooze glowing lava and spew ash up to 900 metres into the air.

"Merapi is still a danger and the avalanches of hot clouds remain a threat," said Sugiono, who uses only one name.

Yesterday morning, as many as 2,600 people "left the shelters to get milk from their cows and then feed them," Sugiono said. "Generally, they come back again in the afternoon."

Multiple hot gas and lava avalanches tumbled down the mountain slopes as ash blasted nearly a kilometre skyward. Repeated volcanic tremors also shook the area.

Authorities said they have no plans to lift the evacuation order put in place last week that saw more than 5,000 people leave villages closest to the crater.

Many others ignored the order, or have since returned home, saying they are bored with life in evacuation centres.

"Even though we have reports that Merapi activity has declined a bit, we call on people to stay in the safe zone," said Mardiyanto, the Central Java provincial governor.

On Sunday the mountain spewed a total of 170 visible lava outflows and 44 heat clouds.

The heat clouds, which geologists have warned were the primary threat posed by the volcano, travelled as far as 3.5 kilometres down its slopes yesterday. The nearest village is at least six kilometres from the peak.

On Sunday the mountain spewed a total of 170 visible lava outflows and 44 heat clouds.

The heat clouds, which geologists have warned were the primary threat posed by the volcano, travelled as far as 3.5 kilometres down its slopes yesterday. The nearest village is at least six kilometres from the peak.

In 1994, 60 people were killed by a searing gas cloud while in 1930, more than a dozen villages were incinerated, leaving 1,300 dead.

Source: China Daily