Mount Sinabung Erupts in Sumatra

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sinabung Volcano in Karo regency, North Sumatra, erupted today at 02.51 local time, Sunday, September 15, 2013. The eruption forced the residents of three nearby villages, Kutarayat village, Sukameriah village, and Bakerah village, to evacuate to Kabanjahe, Berastagi regency.

Amri Pelawi, one of the residents, explained that until 11.00, ashes from the eruption covered the whole city of Berastagi and Kabanjahe. Small stones also spewed out from the highest mountain in North Sumatra.

The Head of Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said, "Sinabung is in Alert 3 status." He is expecting no activities conducted in 3 kilometers radius from the crater.

The victims from Kabanjahe are accommodated at buildings and meeting halls around Karo Regency administration office while victims from Berastagi are collected in the open field near Berastagi Market. No reports of death victims and damages so far. Sinabung Monitoring Post has recorded 225 volcanic quakes, 16 earthquake gusts, 5 local tectonic quakes, 24 distanced tectonic quakes, and 15 mm tremors since the pre-dawn.

SAHAT SIMATUPANG