A smouldering Indonesian volcano shot rocks, ash and smoke into the air for the third consecutive day Wednesday as hundreds more villagers deserted its slopes, police and scientists said. Volcanologists warned on Tuesday that an eruption of Mount Gamkonora, located on the northeastern island of Halmahera may be imminent.
"There have been 11 small eruptions registered within the first 18 hours of today (Wednesday)," geologist Toto Hendrasto told AFP from Ternate, the capital of North Maluku province, 66 kilometres (41 miles) southwest of Gamkonora.
The smoke column rose up to 2,500 metres from the crater of the 1,635-metre (5,461-foot) volcano, he added.
The column had been about 500 metres higher on Tuesday.
Risnu Malau, a policeman in the nearby town of Jailolo, said a total of 8,621 people from eight villages had fled to safer areas. He said most local police had been dispatched to the slopes to help local authorities deal with the displaced.
Earlier, Hendrasto said that historically the volcano's eruptions have involved ash, smoke and small pieces of volcanic debris.
"Centuries ago, an eruption of Gamkonora involved lava and pyroclastic flows, but in recent history, its eruptions have only been marked by spewing ash. Hopefully, it stays that way too this time," Hendrasto told AFP.
Indonesia sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," where continental plates meet, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity. The archipelago nation has the world's highest number of active volcanoes.
Gamkonora, located some 2,700 kilometres (1,600 miles) northeast of Jakarta, has erupted 12 times since records have been kept, most recently 20 years ago.
earlier related report
More Than 8000 Flee Indonesian Volcano As Top Alert Declared
Jakarta (AFP) July 10 – Some 8,500 people have fled the slopes of an Indonesian volcano after it spewed ash, smoke and debris, officials said Tuesday, as the volcanology office raised its warning to the highest level. The office said volcanic activity at Mount Gamkonora, about 2,700 kilometres (1,600 miles) northeast of Jakarta, prompted it to raise its warning level to "alert" which means an eruption is imminent. Spot fires were visible and the crater spewed burning material up to 15 metres (yards) from the crater, the office said.
People nearby heard two thunderous booms and the column of smoke rising from the crater reached up to 2,500 metres, the office said on its website.
It said that as of early Monday, 8,439 people had moved off the slopes of the 1,635-metre (5,461-foot) volcano, which last erupted in 1987.
It was unclear how many remained on the slopes and were at risk.
Local official Penta Libela said authorities were helping with the evacuation of villagers and had prepared four safe shelters.
"It is not an official evacuation program. The population panicked because of the eruption and fled on their own and as the local government, we are merely helping by providing more vehicles and assigning temporary shelters," Libela said early Monday.
Indonesia sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," where continental plates meet, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity. The archipelago nation has the world's highest number of active volcanoes.
Gamkonora has erupted 12 times since records have been kept.
The volcano typically spews heat clouds, or pyroclastic flows, along with lava streams toward villages in the west and northwest of Halmahera island, rather than exploding, the volcanology website said.
earlier related report
Volcanic Fumes Kill Six Indonesian Students
Jakarta (AFP) July 9 – Poisonous fumes wafting from an Indonesian volcano have killed six Indonesian high school students who ignored warning signs to venture into its crater, a hospital worker said Monday. The incident happened on Mount Salak, a volcano in west Java popular with visitors from Jakarta at weekends.
"Four died on the spot and two died on the way to hospital," said Sudaryono from the Indonesian Red Cross hospital in Bogor, West Java.
Three other students were affected by the fumes, he said.
The nine students had left the group they were camping with about a kilometre down the slope late on Saturday.
Two were discharged on Sunday and the third was no longer in a critical condition but still being treated in hospital, Sudaryono said.
One of the survivors, 14-year-old Naimah, told the Pikiran Rakyat daily that she saw one of the girls in the group collapse while they were in the crater and lose consciousness.
"Sarifah suddenly collapsed and fainted. I wanted to help," Naimah said, adding that she smelled the strong odour of sulfur before fainting herself.
Hiking up Indonesia's many volcanoes is a popular activity across the archipelago nation.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Seven climbers were found dead on the slopes of Indonesia's second highest volcano, Mount Rinjani, in March. They likely died of exposure.
Source: Agence France-Presse
