Flames Spurt from Java Mud Volcano

The East Java mud volcano crater, spewing massive amounts of hot mud into residential, industrial and farming areas.

The massive "mud volcano" disaster in Indonesia's East Java province has taken on a new and potentially deadly aspect — bursts of gas that threaten to ignite into flames near those still living in the area.

About 15,000 people have been evacuated since a huge flood of hot mud began spewing from a well site in May 2006.

Some experts say it was triggered by careless gas-drilling operations, while the drilling company argues it was caused by an earthquake 155 miles away.

People living near the wide swath of industrial, residential and agricultural land covered by the mud in Sidoarjo district say flammable gas jets are now bursting out of the mud.

"In this village, you could be burnt anytime unless we are relocated," Rahmat Sudirman, a resident in Mindi village, told Reuters.

Villagers are marking new gas leaks with a piece of pipe in an effort to prevent people from setting the flares alight. Police have cordoned off some of the larger leaks.