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Fresh Sinabung eruptions reach farther afield

Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra spewed more volcanic material in eruptions on Wednesday night, reaching the farthest since 2010, burning houses in two villages in a “red zone” covering a 3- to 5-kilometer radius to the volcano’s south

Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post)
Karo, North Sumatra
Fri, February 20, 2015

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Fresh Sinabung eruptions reach farther afield

M

ount Sinabung in North Sumatra spewed more volcanic material in eruptions on Wednesday night, reaching the farthest since 2010, burning houses in two villages in a '€œred zone'€ covering a 3- to 5-kilometer radius to the volcano'€™s south.

No casualties were reported in the incident as all residents of affected areas have been relocated to safer places since November 2013.

Based on data from the Mt. Sinabung observation station, the molten lava flow reached more than 4 km to the south on Wednesday evening.

Temburun villager Nelsi Singarimbun said he had not seen a lava flow reach as far as it did on Wednesday since the volcano erupted in 2010.

'€œUsually, the Mount Sinabung lava flow never reaches that far, but this time it reached Suka Meriah and Gurukinayan villages. This is the farthest I'€™ve ever seen,'€ Nelsi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Nelsi said he witnessed the enormous molten lava flow from his home located 4.5 km west of the volcano. He added that the lava flow felled trees and razed homes in Suka Meriah and Gurukinayan from 7:20 p.m. until 8:10 p.m.

'€œThe lava flow, which lasted for around 50 minutes, burned trees and some homes there,'€ he said.

Nelsi added that the incident had caused fear among residents living around Sinabung as the lava flow had reached settlements.

Payung villager Alfinus Ginting also expressed fear about the increased volcanic activities of late.

'€œResidents have been on the alert at home from last night until this afternoon. They are afraid because Sinabung has continued to erupt lately,'€ said Alfinus.

Karo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Subur Tambun urged residents to remain alert along with the increase in volcanic activity.

Subur said that as of Thursday afternoon, Sinabung was still erupting. However, he added, its activity had declined compared to Wednesday.

'€œThe eruptions were quite strong last night. It spewed hot lava to the south and volcanic ash spread until Berastagi city and Tahura,'€ said Subur.

He added his office had yet to receive a report on the number of homes destroyed by the lava flow in Suka Meriah and Gurukinayan. He said both villages were in the lava-flow path, which was strictly out of bounds.

'€œWe must not enter the location because they are in the red zone. We don'€™t know the situation there,'€ said Subur, who made sure all villages included in the danger zone were vacant of people as they have been evacuated since November 2013.

Subur added seven villages had been included in the red zone, namely Suka Meriah, Simacem, Bekerah, Gurukinayan, Berastepu, Gamber and Kuta Tonggol.

Three of them '€” Suka Meriah, Simacem and Bekerah '€” are located within a 3-km radius of the volcano, while the rest are located 5 km from the mountain.

Subur said residents living in the red zone would be relocated to Siosar in Merek district.

'€œThe relocation process will be carried out in stages. As many as 370 homes will be built for residents from Suka Meriah, Simacem and Bekerah villages in the first stage. In the second stage, 1,600 homes will be built for residents from Gurukinayan, Berastepu, Gamber and Kuta Tonggol villages,'€ said Subur, adding that the initial stage of the housing project was expected to be complete by June this year.

Regarding the fate of displaced residents from Sukanalu and Sigarang-garang villages, who are currently accommodated at shelters, Subur said they would be returned to their respective homes by the end of this month the latest.

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