Thread: Sumatra Volcano erupts

Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung volcano erupts, spewing ash cloud into the air and threatening flights

SINABUNG spewed a smoke and ash cloud seven kilometres into the air over Sumatra, and the volcanic eruption could disrupt flights to and from Indonesia.

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INDONESIA has raised flight warnings around the Mount Sinabung volcano on Sumatra island to their highest level after it sent a towering plume of ash more than seven kilometres into the air on Monday, its biggest eruption this year.
Areas around the crater of the volcano, located about 1900km northwest of the capital Jakarta, have been off-limits for several years because of frequent volcanic activity.


The Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin issued maps on Monday showing an ash cloud heading in three directions from Sinabung, to the north, northwest and south-southeast.
Indonesia also upgraded its Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation to red, its highest warning, and said the ash-cloud top had reached 23,872 feet (7,276 metres), according to a ground observer.


Sinabung is about 75km southwest of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan.
Nur Isnin Istianto, head of the regional airport authority, said Kutacane airport in Aceh province had been closed, but the wind direction allowed the airport of Kualanamu, Meulaboh and Silangit to remain open.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s Disaster Agency, said the eruption began on Monday morning, accompanied by multiple earthquakes and showering surrounding villages with small rocks.
“In five districts it became dark with a visibility of about 5 metres,” he said in a statement.

Indonesian volcano erupts: Flight delays expected as Mt. Sinabung blows

Nice clear vid, Harry...

A Pyroclastic eruption?? - possibly a pre-cursor for things to come.

The Indo-branch of the broad ring-of-fire. Clearly, the most active recently and historically.

Good luck to the Karos , visit regularly, the Bataks have a great culture and have survived many an eruption, has planned Easter on Doau Toba maybe Dali this time instead

About 25 years ago i travelled around that area and stayed in a small town close to the volcano. It was belching smoke and was quite spectacular to see.

I remember walking through the town with my wife and being followed and threatened by local youths. We hotfooted it back to the hotel we were staying in and the next day walked out again after breakfast, again to be threatened by a bunch of local males, some of whom picked up rocks to throw.

The hotel told us the town is predominantly muslim and western males are not welcomed, especially when they walk around with women in western dress. We left town that afternoon by taxi.

With a bit of luck the volcano will very soon bury that nasty hellhole in hot ash.

..and they had horse drawn buggies for taxis?

Originally Posted by taxexile

About 25 years ago i travelled around that area and stayed in a small town close to the volcano. It was belching smoke and was quite spectacular to see.

I remember walking through the town with my wife and being followed and threatened by local youths. We hotfooted it back to the hotel we were staying in and the next day walked out again after breakfast, again to be threatened by a bunch of local males, some of whom picked up rocks to throw.

The hotel told us the town is predominantly muslim and western males are not welcomed, especially when they walk around with women in western dress. We left town that afternoon by taxi.

With a bit of luck the volcano will very soon bury that nasty hellhole in hot ash.

Was that Berastagi?

Most of the Bataks are Christian or animist around Toba, I had similar hassle in Medan , but with new superb airport KNO can get a cab stright to Siantar or Parapat about $20 each last year