Merapi Update for 11/4/2010: The eruption worsens

The new eruptive phase at Merapi appears to be getting worse - and from the sound of it, the volcanologists at the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation aren't sure what to expect. Surono, the head of the Centre, described the volcano as entering an "even worse stage" and that "we have no idea what's happening now." Those are never good words to hear from the volcanologists on the ground, but shows how unpredictable volcanoes can be. A new dome was noticed on the volcano on Wednesday after the latest large explosion (video), but it is unclear how long it will survive or how much pressure the extruding lava might take from the underlying magma.