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Hailstorm hits Karo regency following increased activity of Mt. Sinabung
The hailstorm occurred in Tiga Panah district, Karo regency, North Sumatra on Thursday afternoon for around 20 minutes. The volcano had spewed out a 4,000-meter column of ash a day earlier.
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Locals look on as Mount Sinabung spews out volcanic ash in Kutarayat village, Karo regency, North Sumatra on Aug. 13, 2020. The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) raised the volcano's status to Siaga (watch), or level 3 of Indonesia's four-tiered volcano alert system. (Antara/Sastrawan Ginting)
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hailstorm reportedly hit part of Karo regency in North Sumatra on Thursday, following increased volcanic activity of Mount Sinabung in the regency.
The hailstorm occurred in Tiga Panah district on Thursday afternoon for around 20 minutes. The volcano had spewed out a 4,000-meter column of ash a day earlier.
"[The hailstorm] lasted for 20 minutes, starting at 6:15 p.m. Luckily, everything is alright," Tiga Panah resident Krisnanto said, adding that nobody was injured by the falling ice pellets.
Read also: Karo farmers suffer Rp 41.8 billion in losses due to Mt. Sinabung eruption
An employee of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Desy, said the unusual phenomenon had occurred due to the increasing supply of volcanic ash in the atmosphere, which can eventually lead to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.
"These clouds are capable of producing hail, thunderstorms and strong winds," she explained.
A similar phenomenon occurred in the regency some three years ago, when 170 families in Beras Jahe district were forced to abandon their houses as a result of roof damage. The storm carrying ice the size of marbles had also damaged roughly 315 hectares of farmland, causing losses totaling hundreds of millions of rupiah. (vny)
