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Merapi volcano emits 4 hot gas clouds

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia, June 15 (UPI) -- Indonesia's simmering volcanic Mount Merapi blasted out four clouds of gas and ash Thursday that spread over 3 miles of the island of Java.

Geologists said they were unable to get a clear view of the 9,700-foot high peak as heavy fog blanketed the summit, the Indonesian Antara news agency reported.

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Mass evacuations were under way Wednesday after officials returned the volcano to "top alert" status, the Jakarta Post reported.

Hot clouds of gas poured down the slopes Wednesday, burning forests after the volcano had been relatively quiet for days.

Hundreds of people who had evacuated last week had returned to their homes Tuesday, only to face another evacuation order to makeshift camps about 10 miles away, Antara said.

Merapi's last eruption was in 1994, when 66 people were killed. In 1930, 1,370 died from a major eruption.

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