Indonesia’s Sinabung Volcano Erupts

Jakarta –  Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, Indonesia, erupted on Sunday, spewing ash columns up to 1,000 meters high.

A first eruption occurred at 9:34 a.m. local time (02:34 GMT) followed by a second one at 12:16 p.m. (05:16 GMT), head of the Sinabung observation team, Armen Putra, told local media.

He urged local residents to remain vigilant as the status of Mount Sinabung has risen to alert or level III.

“Do not carry out activities in villages that have been relocated, as well as areas within a 3-kilometer radius of the Mount Sinabung’s peak,” he said.

The official urged residents to wear face masks, especially when going outside to reduce inhalation of ash particles, and advised them to secure clean water facilities and clean house roofs that are covered with ash to prevent them from collapsing.

“Residents should be on alert of the possible lava flow,” he said.

Mount Sinabung erupted after a 400-year-long hiatus in August 2010, and has been continuously active since September 2013.

On August 14, 2020, the volcano erupted producing a column of volcanic materials as high as 5,000 meters.