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long stay at an evacuation shelter combined with illness are believed to be behind the death of an evacuee of Mt. Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra; increasing the number of evacuee deaths to 14 since the volcano erupted in September. The suffering will likely continue for some time as there are no indications of a decrease in volcanic activity.

Mt. Sinabung Disaster Mitigation Media Center head Jhonson Tarigan revealed Tuesday the latest death was Bunin Karo, 85, an evacuee from Kutambelin village, who died on Sunday. Jhonson said the reasons behind the 14 deaths varied from depression due to long stays in the shelters, respiratory illness, high blood pressure and diabetes. Besides the deaths, he added, as many as 35 internally displaced persons were being treated in the nearby hospital while 500 others received outpatient treatments.

Meanwhile, Mt. Sinabung Emergency Action head Lt. Col. Lesta Karo Karo, said the displaced persons fell ill as a result of exhaustion from staying too long in the shelters as well as weather and environmental factors.

'€œThe volcano is still active, meaning that they should stay in the shelters until the situation returns to normal,'€ he said.