New volcano eruption delays Yudhoyono's return

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had to delay his return to Jakarta after visiting refugees of the Mount Sinabung volcanic eruption in Karo regency, North Sumatra, on Tuesday after the volcano's latest eruption earlier in the day.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha told kompas.com that the President had to listen to an explanation by the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) chief Surono about the latest development of the volcano activity.

Yudhoyono was scheduled to depart from North Sumatra at 8:45 a.m., but he had to delay the flight for about an hour.

The President went to Mount Sinabung Monday for the first time after the volcano started erupting 11 days ago, visiting makeshift shelters hosting more than 21,000 refugees and inspecting disaster management operations.

Mount Sinabung shot black ash 5,000 meters into the air after midnight Tuesday - its latest eruption since springing back to life after four centuries of dormancy earlier this month.

The eruption sent ashes raining down on areas six kilometers away, with the force of the explosion could be felt 12 kilometers away.

PVMBG said that the eruption occurred at around 00:40 a.m. Tuesday.