Mount Sinabung Erupts Again

Medan, North Sumatra, Oct 24 (Antara) - Mount Sinabung in the district of Tanah Karo erupted again on Thursday morning sending volcanic ashes as high as 3,000 meters. Areas in the east, south and southeast of the volcano were blanketed with volcanic ashes, Head of the National Agency for Natural Disaster Control (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. "Black smokes were spurted out from the crater of the volcano from 06.00 to 8.50 local time," Sutopo said in a statement here on Thursday. Small explosions were recorded on Wednesday afternoon, but stronger than the one on Thursday morning, Sutopo said. The Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) warned the local people and mountain climbers to stay at least 2 kilometers away from the crater, but no recommendation yet for evacuation. People of three closest villages to the volcano Sukameriah, Bekerah, and Simacem are warned of the danger of the volcanic ashes. BNPB monitoring units in Tanah Karo maintains coordination with PVMBG to monitor the volcanic activities . The volcano erupted only last September forcing thousands of people to leave their houses and stayed in evacuation tents and public buildings. Earlier eruption of the volcano was in August 2010.