JAKARTA, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Mudflows from Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano overwhelmed two villages Friday, killing at least 31 people in one of them, officials said.
Officials said the hot mudflow gushed over a concrete dam protecting Brongangsuruh and destroyed about 10 nearby houses, the Antara News Agency reported.
"Of the 10 houses, we only managed to access five houses for evacuation and we found 31 bodies there. We have not been able to reach the other five houses, which are located higher, due to hot mudflow, sand and rocks blocking the houses," Sajarwo, an area resident, said.
The death toll has risen to more than 120 since the volcano burst into activity Oct. 26, officials said. More than 100 people have been injured with severe burns.
The Gendor River was choked by the mudflow and ash, Sajarwo said.
"The mudflow materials still produce smoke and hot air, which can be felt quite strongly around the river," he said.
At Slodokan, the mudflow covered almost half of the village and burned five houses that rescuers couldn't reach for evacuation because of the heat, Antara reported. The number of dead and injured in Slodokan was not reported.
Mount Merapi straddles Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces.
Residents of the area have been advised to stay away from rivers because rain mixed with ash can turn into volcanic mudflows.
