Intense activity by deadly volcano has experts baffled - and fearful

Eruptions at Indonesia's deadly volcano have intensified, sending towering clouds of ash from the crater, dusting towns up to 150 miles away and forcing motorists to switch on their headlights during the day.

The death toll from the eruption of Mount Merapi - "Fire Mountain" - climbed to 44 yesterday, with six more deaths recorded in the past 48 hours.

Even those who have dedicated a lifetime to studying Merapi have been baffled by its erratic behavior since its first eruption on 26 October, which has been followed by more than a dozen other powerful blasts and thousands of volcanic tremors.

They had earlier hoped that would result in a long, slow release of energy. "But we have no idea what to expect now," said Surono, a state volcanologist.

The fear is that a new lava dome forming in the crater mouth will collapse, triggering deadly surges of superheated ash and gas - known as pyroclastic flows - moving at 60mph.

Though more than 75,000 residents have been evacuated to emergency shelters, dozens risk their lives to check on their livestock and homes.