Posted on 08/29/2010 10:10:59 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Thousands of Indonesians were evacuated from the slopes of a volcano on Sunday after it erupted for the first time in more than 400 years, spewing out lava and sending smoke and dust 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) into the air.
Mount Sinabung, in the north of the island of Sumatra, began erupting around midnight after rumbling for several days, prompting some villagers to panic before the mass evacuation got under way.
Indonesia is on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and geological fault lines triggering frequent earthquakes around the Pacific Basin. The eruption triggered the highest red volcano alert.
Two people died, one from breathing problems and the other from a heart attack, and two suffered injuries in road accidents as trucks, ambulances and buses were mobilized in the rescue operation.
"This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung has erupted and we have little knowledge in terms on its eruptive patterns," said Surono, head of Indonesia's vulcanology center.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I’ve got some 1920’s Post Cards from there. The volcanoes looked scary even back then.
Stand by for response in the way of massive U.S. support. News at 10.
Global Volcanism Program
Sinabung
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0601-08=&volpage=photos
Thanks..I remember seeing something on Discovery about it..along with the one under Yellowstone.
.
Indonesia's Mount Sinabung spewed a vast cloud of smoke and ash high into the air on Monday,
disrupting flights and sending thousands more people into temporary shelters. (afp.com)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
