Sinabung Eruption Sends Ash 3,500 Meters Above Sumatra

Mount Sinabung erupted Monday in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, sending black ash and smoke approximately 3,500 meters (11,482 feet) into the air, according to reporting carried by Phys.org from The Associated Press. The eruption affected several villages in Karo district, where ash covered roads, vehicles and buildings. Local authorities distributed masks to residents, while officials advised residents, visitors and tourists to avoid nearby villages and activities within 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of the volcano’s summit. Indonesia’s Geological Agency raised Sinabung’s alert level to “Watch,” the country’s second-highest level for volcanic activity. The change also expanded the recommended safety zone around the 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) mountain. Geological Agency chief Lana Saria said the eruption was considered an initial event and that a larger eruption remained possible. The agency had previously reported signs of increasing activity in mid-August, including dozens of earthquakes, and had already expanded the recommended distance for public activities. There were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries, evacuations or flight disruptions following the eruption. However, volcanic activity around Sinabung has forced about 30,000 people to leave their homes over the past several years. Sinabung is one of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 280 million people that experiences frequent seismic activity.