Ash from Indonesia's Mount Sinabung eruption may affect Malaysia's southern states

Razak Ahmad The Star 4 Feb 14;

PETALING JAYA: Ash from north Sumatra's Mount Sinabung, which erupted again Monday, may reach the southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia, and this could affect visibility and flight operations, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said.

The volcano, located 271km from Pangkor Island, Perak, first erupted over the weekend, killing 15 people.

The department, in a statement, said north-westerly winds forecast until Thursday "may cause ash from the volcano to move towards southern Peninsular Malaysia, which can affect flight operations and reduce visibility."

The department's National Earthquake and Tsunami Centre is closely monitoring developments and will be issuing updates, the statement said.

Indonesia volcano kills at least 11, fears over more eruptions
Chris Nusatya PlanetArk 3 Feb 14;

Indonesia volcano kills at least 11, fears over more eruptions Photo: S Aditya
CORRECTING BYLINE AND UPDATING CAPTION A villager runs as Mount Sinabung erupt at Sigarang-Garang village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, February 1, 2014. Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano erupted and killed at least 11 people on t
Photo: S Aditya

Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano erupted and killed at least 11 people on the western island of Sumatra on Saturday, the first time it is known to have claimed any lives, a senior government official said.

The volcano has become increasingly active in recent months, regularly spewing columns of ash several kilometers into the air. The government has evacuated tens of thousands of residents near the area.

"Eleven people were killed because of the eruption this morning and the number could increase. No evacuations could be made at this stage because of the potential for more eruptions," Andi Arief, a presidential staff member, told Reuters.

Sinabung is one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world's fourth-most populous country, which stands along the "Ring of Fire" volcanic belt around the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesia's most deadly volcanic eruption in recent years was of Mount Merapi, near the densely populated city of Yogyakarta in central Java. It erupted in late 2010, killing more than 350 people.

(Corrects to insert dropped word "fourth" in paragraph 4)

(Reporting by Chris Nusatya; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Tom Heneghan)