Thousands flee as long-sleepy Sumatra volcano erupts

Reuters AlertNet 29 Aug 10;

JAKARTA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Thousands of Indonesians were evacuated from the slopes of a volcano on Sunday after it erupted for the first time in more than 400 years, spewing out lava and sending smoke and dust 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) into the air.

Mount Sinabung, in the north of the island of Sumatra, began erupting around midnight after rumbling for several days, prompting some villagers to panic before the mass evacuation got under way.

Indonesia is on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and geological fault lines triggering frequent earthquakes around the Pacific Basin. The eruption triggered the highest red volcano alert.

Two people died, one from breathing problems and the other from a heart attack, and two suffered injuries in road accidents as trucks, ambulances and buses were mobilised in the rescue operation.

"This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung has erupted and we have little knowledge in terms on its eruptive patterns," said Surono, head of Indonesia's vulcanology centre.

Authorities took at least 12,000 people from high risk areas on the slopes of the 2,460-metre volcano to temporary shelters. Local TV showed showed women and children wearing face masks in cramped tents.

The area around the volcano is largely agricultural.

"Since this is the first eruption we've had in Sinabung, we're anticipating residents to remain at the shelters for at least a week while waiting for further status alert," said Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman at the national disaster management agency.

Residents panicked when the volcano started erupting overnight and some of them who live in safer areas chose to take refugee at shelters, Kardono added.

The eruption has not damage roads or bridges. The nearest big city is Medan where there were no disruptions to flights.

(Reporting by Karima Anjani; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Volcano quiet for 400 years erupts in Indonesia
Associated Press Yahoo News 29 Aug 10;

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early Sunday in its first eruption in 400 years. Government volcanologist Surono, who uses only one name, said Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province started rumbling a few days ago and the minor morning eruption had mostly stopped.

It sent sand and ash up to a mile (1.5 kilometers) high but lava only moved near its crater. It caused no major damage and "only dust covered plants and trees," he said.

He said Mount Sinabung last erupted in 1600, so observers don't know the volcano's eruption pattern and are monitoring it closely for more activity.

Evacuations on the volcano's slopes started Friday at the first signs of activity. Up to 10,000 people who fled are staying in government buildings, houses of worship and other evacuation centers in two nearby towns.

The government has distributed 7,000 masks to refugees and set up public kitchens so people can cook food, said Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is on the so-called "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Ash won't reach Singapore
Straits Times 31 Aug 10;

THE volcanic ash thrown up by an Indonesian volcano is not expected to cloud the skies over Singapore.

Mount Sinabung erupted on Sunday and again yesterday morning, sending ash 2km into the air. The volcano is about 648km from Singapore in the north of Sumatra. Records dating back 400 years do not show any eruptions over that time.

The prevailing winds are not expected to blow the volcanic ash towards Singapore, however. Said a spokesman for the National Environment Agency (NEA): 'The low-level winds over Singapore are light and from the south-east, while the upper-level winds are from the north-east to east.

'Around northern Sumatra, near Mount Sinabung, low-level winds are light and variable with upper-level winds blowing from the north-east to east.'

He added that wind conditions are expected to remain unchanged for the next few days.

The Meteorological Services Division of the NEA is monitoring the situation closely.

Dormant volcano eruptions do happen, with about one incident every decade.

VICTORIA VAUGHAN