JAKARTA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities Tuesday lowered the alert level of the Merapi volcano in Central Java from maximum to medium due to weakening volcanic activities in the past few days.

    The volume of hot clouds from the 2,965-meter volcano has decreased since the peaking period last Friday, reported the national Antara news agency, quoting a government spokesperson in the central Javanese city of Yogyakarta.

    But sand mining, mountain climbing and other activities are banned in the radius of 6 km from the Merapi crater, said Sudarningsih, spokesperson for the local government.

    Decision to relax the alert status was taken by the volcanology center and geological agency in Yogyakarta, she said.

    Authorities will continue to closely monitor volcanic activities in Merapi and if the danger remains, the current status will be reviewed again, she said.

    More than 18,000 people have fled the volcano since it showed signs of imminent eruption in May. The volcanic activities peaked last Friday when Merapi spewed lava and gas clouds in large amount, but there were no reports of casualties.

    Merapi last erupted in 1994, in which 64 people were killed. Enditem