3 killed by cold lava flood in Indonesia's N Maluku

JAKARTA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed by cold lava flood from Mount Gamalama in Indonesia's North Maluku province.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Center of Data, Information and Public Relation at the National Agency of Disaster Management (BNPB), said in a statement that the flood hit villages of Tubo and Tofure, killed three people and ruined several houses.

"The flood was caused by heavy rainfall, causing rivers of Togorara and Marikurubu overflown and brought cold lava material," he said.

Nugroho added that the Regional Agency of Disaster Management ( BDPB) of North Maluku province and related institutions have evacuated residents whose house exposed by the flood.

He also said that BNPB and BPBD keep coordinating with the Center of Vulcanology and Geologic Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to monitor Mount Gamalama.

"Danger status remains at level III," he said.