Top alert for Indonesia volcano, villagers evacuate
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
JAKARTA, Aug 20 (Reuters): Lava and hot gas clouds have begun erupting from an Indonesian volcano, threatening hundreds of people living in nearby villages, an official said Monday.
Saut Simatupang, the head of Indonesia's Vulcanology Survey, said nearly 600 people had evacuated their homes in an area south-east of Mount Karangetang.
Simatupang said the alert status for the volcano was raised to maximum at the weekend after hot clouds started moving eastwards, posing a threat to hundreds of people.
The 1,827 metre (5,994 feet) peak, on the diving resort island of Siau off Sulawesi and 2,325 km (1,445 miles) north-east of the capital Jakarta, is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes.
"At least hundreds of the 30,000 people living on the island are at grave risk," Simatupang said by telephone from his office in the city of Bandung.
Saut Simatupang, the head of Indonesia's Vulcanology Survey, said nearly 600 people had evacuated their homes in an area south-east of Mount Karangetang.
Simatupang said the alert status for the volcano was raised to maximum at the weekend after hot clouds started moving eastwards, posing a threat to hundreds of people.
The 1,827 metre (5,994 feet) peak, on the diving resort island of Siau off Sulawesi and 2,325 km (1,445 miles) north-east of the capital Jakarta, is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes.
"At least hundreds of the 30,000 people living on the island are at grave risk," Simatupang said by telephone from his office in the city of Bandung.