JAKARTA, Sept 2 — Mount Sinabung in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province erupted again this morning, as more than 600 residents were evacuated amid heightened volcanic activity.
According to the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the eruption began at 7.20 am local time, with an ash column rising about 1,000 metres above the summit, or about 3,460 metres above sea level.
“The ash column was observed to be grey to brown and thick, moving towards the east and southeast. At the time this report was prepared, the eruption was still ongoing,” it said in a report.
Sinabung’s activity level was raised from Level II (Alert) to Level III (Standby) at 12.30 pm on Monday after visual and instrumental monitoring showed increased volcanic activity.
The upgrade followed an eruption earlier that day that sent an ash column about 3.5 kilometres above the summit, or about 5.96 kilometres above sea level, with authorities warning that volcanic activity could intensify further.
Amid the heightened activity, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said today that 615 residents from 211 families in Kuta Tengah had been evacuated to an emergency response post, with the village among the areas identified as being at risk.
BNPB Acting Head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre Berton Panjaitan said the danger zone had been expanded based on recommendations from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry following the increase in Sinabung’s volcanic activity.
“Residents and visitors are not permitted to carry out activities in relocated villages, within a three-kilometre radius of the summit, as well as within a sectoral radius of up to six kilometres towards the southeast,” he said in a statement.
