By Ainur Rohmah
JAKATTA
Villagers in the locality of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra are being warned to stay at least 7 kilometers away from the volcano, with eruptions currently sending ash spewing into the air.
The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) said in a statement that eruptions yesterday had continued into this morning with Sinabung sending ash round 700 meters high, and warned of the consequences of an avalanche.
"It would be formed of hot clouds and be very dangerous," agency head Made Agung Nandaka told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.
"We are sending progress reports of Sinabung's activity once every six hours to all stakeholders in the area," he added.
Hendra Gunawan, the head of PVMBG's volcano examination and observation subdivision, said that lava avalanches had occurred seven times yesterday, which were followed by a hot cloud around 1 kilometer in radius.
He added that the lava dome is growing and "very unstable”.
"We do not know the magnitude of any future eruption," he warned.
Residents of seven villages, namely Bekerah, Berastepu, Gamber, Gurukinayan, Kutatengah, Simacem, Sukameriah and Sibintun hamlet, have been recommended for evacuation.
Nearly 3,000 villagers have so far been evacuated.
On February 1 last year, 11 people were killed and three others wounded when Mount Sinabung -- located in the volcanic Pacific Ring of Fire -- erupted several times during the day.
There had been a reduction in the volcano's activity since eruptions in August 2010, and nearly 14,000 people had returned to their homes.
