Mudslides displace hundreds in Indonesia's latest natural disaster

Hundreds of people in Indonesia have fled their homes to escape fast-moving mudflows streaming down the slopes of the country's most volatile volcano. Hours of incessant rains on Monday triggered the mudslides, which raced down the slopes of Mount Merapi at speeds of up to 60 mph, and inundated homes in knee-high black sludge.

Over 400 people have fled this latest natural disaster on the volcano. It was only last month that eruptions spewed clouds of hot gas and debris, destroying homes and livelihoods; leaving over 340 people dead and thousands homeless.

“Today there are about 70,000 people still living in the evacuation sites – not including the people who are affected by the floods,” says Yenni Suryani, Country Team Leader for Catholic Relief Services Indonesia.

Suryani says that between the rains and eruptions, clean water is becoming scarce on Mount Merapi.

“The agriculture situation is quite poor right now because the water from the river is contaminated by the volcanic ash,” she told Vatican Radio. “But also, the water systems for drinking and housing needs are affected in certain areas.”

Meanwhile on the Island of Java, the Mount Borno volcano has come back to life after a yearlong lull, unleashing a powerful blast of volcanic debris. Officials on Monday shut down the nearby airport in Malang for five days.

Listen to the report by Kelsea Brennan-Wessels: