Eruption Alert raised as volcano spews lava, ash
Pastor Dale Morgan
Eruption Alert raised as volcano spews lava, ash*
From correspondents in Jakarta
June 07, 2008 07:58pm
Article from: Reuters
INDONESIA has raised the alert for a volcano on Sulawesi island to the
highest level after it began spewing hot lava and clouds of smoke.
Lava from Mount Soputan has been gliding down its slopes about 1.5km
from the crater since yesterday but has not reached the foot of the
mountain.
Saut Simatupang, head of Indonesia's Vulcanology Survey, said: "We have
urged people to avoid areas near the volcano, especially camping areas
in the eastern part of the mountain."
He said residential areas near the volcano were not in any danger.
Indonesia has the highest number of active volcanoes in any country,
sitting on a belt of intense volcanic and seismic activity known as the
"Pacific Ring of Fire".
People often live and farm on the slopes of volcanoes because of the
rich volcanic soil.
In the past two years, at least three major volcanoes, including Anak
Krakatau, have showed signs of increased activity, but there has been no
serious eruption.