"It is not an ash rain caused by an emission of deadly hot clouds. The rocks were emitted by Merapi during its last eruption in 2001," Sri told AFP from the ancient royal town located 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) south of Merapi.

Merapi has been on standby alert for more than two weeks, one level below that which would require a mandatory evacuation for more than 29,000 people living around its fertile slopes.

Merapi's seismic and volcanic activities on Saturday "remains pretty much similar" to recent days, she said. Officials are monitoring the volcano round-the-clock.

Scientists have warned that the volcano could erupt at any time and hundreds of residents have already been relocated to temporary shelters. Many people living on the slopes of the volcano have refused to evacuate their villages despite warnings and continue life as usual.

Traditional beliefs hold that Merapi will only erupt after certain omens, some of which appear in dreams.

Merapi, which has been rumbling intermittently over the past four years, looms above a plain located in the southern area of Central Java province.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" noted for its volcanic and seismic activity. The country has more than 100 active volcanoes.

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