Mount Merapi Volcano Eruption Update: Fear of volcanic ash cancels flights to Jakarta, Indonesia

International flights to Indonesia were cancelled after the biggest eruption of the Mount Merapi volcano in a century spewed ash into the atmosphere.

The torrent of ash, lava and rocks has killed 138 people on its slopes in the past two weeks.

Lufthansa, EVA Air, and Philippine Air were among those that canceled flights Sunday to the capital, 280 miles (450 kilometers) west of Merapi. A handful - including Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific - were back in the air after suspending service Saturday.

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Strong typhoon Chaba approaches rain-hit Amami region in Japan

A strong typhoon, moving northward with winds of over 90 kilometers per hour, approached the disaster-hit Amami island region in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Typhoon Chaba, the 14th typhoon this year, has weakened its force but may approach and make landfall on Japan's main Honshu island Saturday, the weather agency said. The city government of Amami called on the locals through a community wireless system to seek early refuge. It also took other disaster- prevention measures such as closing all elementary and junior high schools and piling sandbags on places hit by earlier mudslides.

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