A massive mudflow that has displaced 15,000 Indonesians on the island of Java stopped flowing for approximately 30 minutes recently. The mud has covered entire villages since it began erupting at the end of last May near the city of Surabaya in east Java.
A team has been dropping concrete balls into the hole from where the mud was flowing in an effort to stop the eruption. Four concrete balls are attached to 1.5meter-long metal chains. The team plans to drop 1,500 balls, each weighing up to 250 kilograms (500lbs) into the hole.
Some experts doubted that the plan would work, but supporters hope it will reduce the amount of mud flowing from the site by up to 70%. The temporary stoppage in the mud flow occurred for 30 minutes this past Monday noon.
"None of our team members knows for sure what happened and we are still trying to determine how it happened," said Rudi Novrianto, a member of the team.
"There's a possibility that a new equilibrium between the concrete balls and the mud pressure is almost established and the mud has absorbed the energy of the balls," team member Bagus Endar told Reuters news agency.
Some scientists say the mud flow was triggered by gas drilling, but the gas company blames an earthquake.
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Here's some satellite pictures showing the area before the mud flow started through last month:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=…
If you want some more background, I've been keeping tabs on this. If this madcap scheme actually works, I'll be amongst the surprised and sheepish...
fyi, this website: http://kopisusu2.blogspot.com/
has been reporting on the mudflow's effects on local people.