Jakarta, A volcano in central Indonesia has
erupted, ejecting columns of thick ash as high as 7,500 meters (24,606
feet) into the sky.
Mount Soputan, located on the northern part of Sulawesi island,
erupted twice this morning, said the national disaster agency’s
spokesman.
He said in anticipation of hot ash and lava sliding down the
volcano’s slopes, local residents have been urged to avoid activities
near the mountain.
Residents were also warned against the possible flowing of lava
into rivers around the volcano, and urged to wear masks in case of ash
rain. Authorities kept the volcano’s alert level at the second-highest
level.
Soputan, which stands 1,784 meters (5,853 feet) tall, is one of
Indonesia’s more than 120 active volcanoes.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 260 million people, is
prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the
Pacific Ring of Fire, the Associated Press (AP) news reported.
Source: Oman News Agency