Locals flee Indonesian volcano

2004-06-08 07:58

Jakarta - About 20 000 people have been evacuated from the slopes of a volcano in northern Indonesia which has begun showering hot ash on villages, local officials have said.

"There are already small eruptions and the emission of smoke and volcanic ash," said Samuel Dolompaha, from the vulcanology monitoring station on Sangihe island north of Sulawesi.

He said the wind-blown ash from Mount Awu has fallen on villages but the evacuation from danger zones was believed to have been almost completed.

A local official identified as Makasenda said villagers have been moved to the island's main town of Tahuna, 15 kilometres south of Mount Awu, and were given temporary shelter in government buildings, schools and places of worship.

She said the evacuation is continuing.

Makasenda said Sangihe district, composed of Sangihe island and scores of smaller islands, has a total population of some 196,600.

The vulcanology office on Sunday raised the status on the 1 320-metre Mount Awu to "beware", the highest alert level.

Mount Awu last erupted in 1992 but caused no casualties. A major eruption in August 1966 killed 39 people and caused thousands to flee.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the so-called "Pacific Rim of Fire" noted for its volcanic and seismic activity.

- AFP