Evacuations under way as activity increases at Indonesian volcano

A farmer walks on his field as Mount Merapi is seen in the background Picture: Slamet Riyadi/AP

Indonesian authorities began evacuating people living on the volatile Mount Merapi volcano’s fertile slopes on Friday following an increase in volcanic activity.

The head of Yogyakarta’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre, Hanik Humaida, warned that Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, could erupt at any time, possibly sending hot gas clouds down its slopes up to three miles.