Mount Sinabung's Status Raised at Top Alert Level

Medan, N Sumatra (Antara) - The alert status of Mount Sinabung of Karo District, North Sumatra, was raised from Watch to Warning level on Monday at 10:00 am local time. Head of Data and Information Center of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the top alert status was issued by Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Agency following the increasing activity of Mount Sinabung which indicated the intensity of the eruption. At its top alert level, Mount Sinabung, therefore, has potential to spew volcanic material, measuring 3-4 cm, as far as four kilometer radius. Therefore, villagers residing in areas of five kilometer or less from the peak have been urged to evacuate themselves. There are around 15,000 villagers within the five km radius. "The evacuation process is going on," Sutopo said. There are around 500 personnel from BNPB and local disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) of North Sumatra assisted by Army and Police personnel and volunteers deployed for Mount Sinabung disaster mitigation. Trucks are urgently needed for evacuation process of local residents as the activity of Mount Sinabung is raising, Sutopo said. (*)