A volcano has erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra for the first time in four centuries, sending smoke 1,500 metres into the air and prompting the evacation of thousands of residents.There are no reports of casualties so far, and aviation in the area is unaffected.Mount Sinabung, in the north of Sumatra, began erupting around midnight after rumbling for several days. Lava was overflowing from its crater, the head of Indonesia's vulcanology centre told Reuters news agency. The agency has placed the volcano on red alert, its highest level."Despite decreasing activities since the eruption, we haven't downgraded the status level," said Surono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name."This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung has erupted, and we have little knowledge in terms of its eruptive patterns and general forms."
A volcano has erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra for the first time in four centuries, sending smoke 1,500 metres into the air and prompting the evacation of thousands of residents.
There are no reports of casualties so far, and aviation in the area is unaffected.
Mount Sinabung, in the north of Sumatra, began erupting around midnight after rumbling for several days. Lava was overflowing from its crater, the head of Indonesia's vulcanology centre told Reuters news agency. The agency has placed the volcano on red alert, its highest level.
"Despite decreasing activities since the eruption, we haven't downgraded the status level," said Surono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
"This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung has erupted, and we have little knowledge in terms of its eruptive patterns and general forms."
Indonesia has issued a red alert after the Sinabung volcano on the western island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years. The volcano spewed smoke and ash 1,500 metres into the air, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from the Karo district in North Sumatra on Sunday. "Initially we thought the ash and smoke were triggered by rain but now we know the driving pressure was from magma," Surono, the head of the nation's volcano disaster alert centre, told the AFP news agency. "It's clearly dangerous so we've raised the warning to the highest level, or red level. From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 metres into the sky," he added.
Indonesia has issued a red alert after the Sinabung volcano on the western island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years.
The volcano spewed smoke and ash 1,500 metres into the air, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from the Karo district in North Sumatra on Sunday.
"Initially we thought the ash and smoke were triggered by rain but now we know the driving pressure was from magma," Surono, the head of the nation's volcano disaster alert centre, told the AFP news agency.
"It's clearly dangerous so we've raised the warning to the highest level, or red level. From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 metres into the sky," he added.
