JAKARTA, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Several airlines have temporarily suspended flights between Singapore and Jakarta because of volcanic ash from Mount Merapi in central Java, officials said.
Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific have diverted or changed flights because volcanic ash can damage jet engines, the BBC reported.
Mount Merapi, one of the world's most active volcanoes, started erupting two weeks ago and has killed at least 130 people; 76 died in its latest eruption Friday.
In the most recent explosive event, the temperature of the ash and lava hitting a village near the mountain's crater reached 1,110 degrees Fahrenheit.
"The volcanic ash presence in the airways surrounding Jakarta could cause severe damage to our aircraft and engines, which could impair the safety of our operations," said Azharuddin Osman, director of operations for Malaysia Airlines.
The volcano has been producing thick clouds of ash and superheated gases in its biggest eruption in a century, forcing the evacuation of 200,000 people living in the area.
A mass burial was being prepared for dozens of victims from the village of Argomulyo, about 11 miles from the crater. Officials said some of the victims are burned too badly to identify.
The region is still recovering from an earthquake and tsunami that killed about 450 people.
