Indonesian volcanoes can spray for several weeks

An Indonesian scientist predicts the volcanic activity of Merapi is like a marathon, meaning it will erupt in a few weeks before being silent.

Two Indonesians looked at the volcano Merapi on the island of Java while evacuating on November 1.Photo: AP.

More than 10 major eruptions have occurred in four waves since the volcano awoke on October 25 and killed at least 38 people. AP said, today the big bangs emitted from the volcano Merapi accompanied by huge dust ash clouds. 21 other volcanoes in Indonesia are also active, in which two mountains can erupt in the next two weeks.

" We have no way to know for sure the future of volcanic activity. But based on the developments in the past few days, we hope a big eruption will not happen. It seems Merapi is make a marathon, not a sprint, "Safari Dwiyono, a scientist who has watched Merapi volcano for more than 15 years, said.

Pall Einarsson , a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, said that increased geological activity could be a sign that volcanoes impact on each other. This is a very new hypothesis for volcanic experts, but scientists have found plenty of evidence of the interaction between volcanoes near each other.

" When the activity of more than 20 volcanoes increases at the same time, it is a phenomenon we should pay attention to. That increase may be a sign of a change in the location of tectonic plates, not just a simple shake , "said Professor Brent McInnes of Curtin University in Australia.

But many other scientists argue that the activity of 21 volcanoes is only a random and normal phenomenon in their life cycle.