Jakarta-Sana
Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra, Indonesia, today erupted, releasing a dense column of ash 1,000 meters above its summit.
The Chinese agency Xinhua quoted the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazards Mitigation in Indonesia as saying in a statement that the eruption of the volcano continued for about two minutes, after it had released, in a few minutes, a column of ash that reached a height of 500 meters.
Warnings were issued to prevent people from carrying out any activities in villages within a radius of three kilometers from the summit and to avoid rivers that originate from Sinabung Mountain. The authorities also asked residents to wear masks when leaving their homes to avoid breathing volcanic ash.
Mount Sinabung volcano remained dormant for centuries until it erupted in 2010.
There are about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, the largest number of active volcanoes in any country in the world.
