2,727 Villagers Evacuated From Slopes Of Volcanic Mount Sinabung

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- As many as 2,727 residents living around Mount Sinabung in Karo district, North Sumatera province, were evacuated following the imposition of alert level IV status to the volcano.

Head of the Data and Information Center of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here in a broadcast message on Thursday that residents of four villages located in the southern and southeastern slopes of the volcano were evacuated.

While 963 residents (218 families) of Tiga Pancur village were evacuated to the Paroki Post, 1,108 residents (381 families) of Gurukinayan are taking shelter at the KNPI Post in Kabanjahe.

In addition, as many as 265 residents (68 families) of Pintu Besi village were evacuated to the Pendopo Post at the Karo District Head Office, and 400 residents of Berastepu village were evacuated to the Serbaguna Post in Simpangempat.

The status of Mount Sinabung in Karo district, North Sumatra province, was raised to alert level IV or "Awas" on Tuesday night at 11:00 p.m. local time following sharp rise in volcanic activity.

"In the last two days, the volcanic activity of Mount Sinabung increased considerably. The volume of its lava dome rose to more than three million cubic meters and is in an unstable condition," Nugroho noted.

Therefore, the volcano has potential to spew lava and pyroclastic clouds towards its southern and southeastern slopes.

Furthermore, the authority has set an exclusion zone of 7 kilometers from the mount's peak and has recommended evacuation of residents who live in the southern and southeastern slopes of the volcano.

The status of the mount was not lowered to alert level III till April 8, 2014.

Mount Sinabung had previously erupted on August 29, 2010, in September and November 2013, and in January, February and October 2014. (WDY)