Balls used to plug Java mud flow (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Indonesian engineers have lowered the first series of concrete balls into a mud volcano to try to plug an eruption which has destroyed thousands of homes.

At least four of the giant, chain-linked spheres were dropped into the crater, but technical problems halted work at the East Java site.

Workers plan to drop 1,500 balls, each weighing up to 250kgs (500lbs).

Some scientists say the mud geyser was likely triggered by gas drilling, but the gas company blames an earthquake.

The geyser began spouting the noxious muck nine months ago at a gas drilling site in East Java.




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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6392995.stm