Jakarta 21/2/2007 (Kominfo-Newsroom) – The international geological workshop here Feb. 20 and 21 came to the conclusion that the Sidoarjo or Lapindo mud is a natural phenomenon, an eruption of a mud volcano at a depth of between 1-2 km below the surface of the earth, according to Prof Said D. Jenie, head of BPPT (Board for Study and Application of Technology).

          The mud exploded as a result of techtonic activities and geological aspects related to geohydrology and geothermal power, said Jenie here Wednesday (21/2).
         Within the 9 months that the mud was thrown from the depth of the volcano into the air, the explosion has become more powerful and judging from its volume the mud will continue to spurt for a very long time.
         Considering the findings of the international  workshop, the government should declare the calamity a natural disaster and similarly handling of it should be done by the state.
         Organizer of the workshop Dr Edy Sunardi said that LUSI (standing for Lumpur Sidoarjo or Sidoarjo Mud) is a mud volcano eruption.  The area in which it takes place is not stable in terms of sedimentation and is techtonically active. Geologically speaking, the strip of land is called Jalur Kendeng.
         In Jalur Kendeng , sedimentation takes place within a very short time so that there is no compactness and elasticity, thereby making it extremely sensitive techtonically.
        Also there is a link in space and time between the Sidoarjo hot mud explosion and the Yogyakarta quake. The  first took place on May 29, 2006 and the second on May 27, 2006. 
       The Yogya quake activated the Semeru volcano on May 29, 2006. (T.Gs/toeb/ton)