Volcano erupts in Sumatra, Indonesia

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JAKARTA, Nov. 3 -- The Mount Sinabung volcano in Karo district of North Sumatra erupted again early Sunday, shooting a column of ash up to 7,000 meters to the sky, and authorities recommended evacuation of the people living in the slope, an official said here.

A major explosion was heard at the 2,475 meter (8,120 feet) high Mount Sinabung after midnight and has been rumbling since, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management and mitigation agency told Xinhua over the phone.

An evacuation zone of 3 km has been declared and the people in four villages within the area must be evacuated, Sutopo said.

The authorities have raised the alert status to the second highest following the increase of seismic activities on the mountain over the recent weeks, he added.

The Mount Sinabung volcano erupted with a major explosion on Oct. 24, sending a column of smoke up to 3,000 meters.

The Mount Sinabung volcano is among 129 active volcanoes in the vast archipelago country, which is vulnerable to seismic upheaval as it lays on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."

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