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Mt. Sinabung erupts after 410 years
After no volcanic activity for more than four centuries, Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, erupted early Sunday morning, leading to two deaths and displacing thousands living on its slopes
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fter no volcanic activity for more than four centuries, Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, erupted early Sunday morning, leading to two deaths and displacing thousands living on its slopes.
The eruption also led to the delay of several flights at Medan’s Polonia airport.
N. Surbakti of Cinta Rakyat subdistrict reportedly died because of respiratory failure bought about by thick smoke. Reuters reported another death from a heart attack.
Thousands of residents, forced to seek refuge at temporary shelters, complained of slow handling of emergency aid. They staged protests by blocking access roads to the Karo administration building, demanding food.
As of Sunday afternoon, 50 tons of rice and 12,000 face masks have been supplied to temporary shelters.
Eye witnesses said Mt. Sinabung erupted at 2 minutes past midnight with three explosions followed by a lava flow down the slope of the volcano, which is 2,460 meters above sea level.
“We were shocked because the local administration had previously informed us that the volcano was stable. We panicked and fled our homes,” Sukanalu subdistrict head Paten Sitepu said.
Lulled into a sense of calm by news of the stable condition, some residents who had fled their houses two days ago when the volcano first started spewing thick smoke decided to return home only to leave their houses again a few hours later when the volcano erupted.
Paten said he saw the volcano erupt and spew hot lava from its crater and send smoke and dust 1,500 meters into the air.
JP/Naryo
North Sumatra Mining and Energy Agency head Untungta Kaban said this was the first eruption at Mt. Sinabung since 1600.
“For almost 410 years the volcano showed no dangerous volcanic activity, which was why it was categorized as a dormant or type B volcano,” Kaban told The Jakarta Post.
The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) announced that the eruption set a historical precedent.
“This is the first time in our history that a type B volcano suddenly turned into a dangerous one, or a type A volcano,” PVMBG head Surono said after meeting with provincial officials Sunday.
The center classifies type A volcanoes as having erupted at least once since 1600, type B as never having erupted since 1600, but showing signs of volcanic activity, and type C as never having erupted in recorded history.
Surono said the PVMBG was studying why Sinabung erupted. “We never monitored the development of Mt. Sinabung because it was considered extinct,” Surono said.
He added he would increase the monitoring activities on the volcano.
Residents in a 6-kilometer radius of the volcano have been instructed to leave their homes.
At least 12,000 residents in three districts around the volcano have been evacuated to Kabanjahe and Brastagi in trucks and ambulances.
They have been placed in eight shelters, including the regency administration building and other public places.
