Volcano eruption brings life and death

SIDOMULYO (AP):The ash and debris that Indonesia's Mount Kelud blasted from its belly brought death and misery, and disrupted international air traffic. But for many of the millions of people cleaning up yesterday in the wake of the explosive eruption, it was also a money earner and a shot of life for their crops.

"This is a blessing of the disaster," said Imam Choiri, a 55-year-old farmer who was scraping up the ash from the road to use as fertiliser on his small vegetable plot a few kilometres from the crater of the mountain, which was rumbling and smoking in the background.

DRIVE AWAY PESTS

Choiri said locals believe the ash helps drive away pests from crops.

The eruption of the 1,731-metre (5,680-foot) high mountain on Java island late last Thursday was one of the most dramatic to hit Indonesia in recent years, with ash falling as far as 600 kilometres (370 miles) away.

Four people, including a 97-year-old woman, were killed when the roofs of their homes caved in under the weight of ash. More than 100,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters.

Yesterday, scientists said Kelud's activities were dying down, in line with its reputation as a mountain that blows its top dramatically but then quickly settles down for another 10 years or so.