Mount Sinabung Erupts, Evacuations Ordered

Mount Sinabung has erupted again, forcing the evacuation of 1,300 people. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency recorded the first eruption early Sunday morning. Authorities said a second eruption was recorded on Sunday evening.

Witnesses said the Indonesian volcano is spewing black ash more than four miles into the sky. The Indonesian military responded to the area to assist with evacuations. Close to 1,300 residents were evacuated. However, authorities expect the number to rise.

As reported by The Jakarta Globe, the evacuations are not mandatory, and many villagers have chosen to remain in their homes. A majority of the evacuees are from the villages of Bekerah, Simacem, and Sukameriah. The government set up temporary shelters in Naman Teran.

Authorities have raised the warning level to “level III: ready” due to the increased activity. Mount Sinabung became active in September, following three years of inactivity. After the September eruption, the volcano erupted again on October 24 and twice on Sunday.

Within a period of six hours on Sunday, authorities documented 12 volcanic quakes, and 14 other quakes of varying strength. The activity prompted officials to set up several command posts to coordinate emergency response.

Prior to 2010, the Indonesian volcano was dormant for more than 400 years. The recent activity has raised concerns for the villages surrounding the mountain.

As reported by Volcano Discovery, Mount Sinabung is located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The ring contains more than 120 active volcanoes. The area’s nickname reflects the high incidence of seismic activity.

The 8,071-foot-tall volcano is located on the Karo plateau of Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The mountain has four distinct summit craters, which all show signs of previous volcanic activity.

Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said activity around the Indonesian volcano is increasing. As thick black smoke continues to spew from the mountain, he urges the Karo administration to declare an emergency status. He also asked the government to coordinate their efforts with the North Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Mount Sinabung’s increased activity is troubling for everyone involved. Although some residents have refused to leave their homes, authorities are working to evacuate as many people as possible.

[Image via Wikimedia]