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Hanoi (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked people living in Mt Merapi danger areas to follow orders for their own safety.

"I again asked people living in the volcano`s danger areas to follow orders given to them for their own safety," President Yudhoyono said in a press conference in Hanoi, Sunday.

The President is in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, attending the ASEAN Summit.

The president added that although Mt. Merapi has started to cool down, the people preferred to stay at evacuation shelters provided by the authorities and other institutions.

"If it is necessary, the people need to be compelled to move to safer places," he pointed out.

President Yudhoyono also said that he had contacted Vice President Boediono who gave him the latest developments of the emergency relief operations.

Mt Merapi erupted last Tuesday morning sending hot clouds and volcanic materials up into the sky as well as down mountain slopes engulfing hundreds of villages.

The volcano again erupted on Friday (Oct. 30) and forced people to flee to safer areas.

As of Sunday morning, the latest eruption of one of the world`s most active volcanoes, had killed 35 people, mostly those living on the slopes of the mountain. The authorities had had difficulties in persuading people flee move to safer areas.

Merapi had erupted several times, namely in 1930, 1997, 2001, 2006 and in October 2010.(*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

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