Cracks in wall suppressing Indonesia's 'mud volcano'

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

JAKARTA (AFP) — Workers were racing Thursday to repair a massive wall holding back sludge spewing from Indonesia's "mud volcano" that has already flooded hundreds of homes, an official said.

Cracks started to appear in the man-made embankment around the disaster area in east Java on Wednesday, prompting authorities to declare the area off limits.

Bambang Suryadi, from the company charged with monitoring the site, said a 300-metre exclusion zone was thrown up only as a precaution, saying the situation was not severe.

"We are already working to repair the cracks, there does not appear to be any problem," said Suryadi from Pt Fergaco.

But state Antara news agency reported the cracks had sparked panic among workers charged with reinforcing the...