Indonesian volcano erupts again; strongest one yet

[Turborama]

Source: AP

TANAH KARO, Indonesia — An Indonesian volcano shot black ash three miles (5,000 meters) into the air early Tuesday — its most powerful eruption since springing back to life after four centuries of dormancy.

The force of Mount Sinabung's explosion could be felt five miles (eight kilometers) away. "This one was really terrifying," said Anissa Siregar, 30, as she and her two sleepy children arrived by truck at an emergency shelter near the base, adding that the whole mountain shook violently for at least three minutes. "It just keeps getting worse."

The volcano in North Sumatra province erupted last week for the first time since 1600, catching many scientists off guard. With more than 129 active volcanoes to watch, local vulcanologists had failed to monitor it for rising magma, slight uplifts in land and other signs of seismic activity.

There are fears that current activity could foreshadow a much more destructive explosion in the next few weeks or months, though it is possible, too, that the mountain will go back to sleep after letting off steam. More than 30,000 people living along the volcano's fertile slopes have been relocated to cramped refugee camps, mosques and churches in nearby villages.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ip0DHCVSi8VFY3fjkPYrhckXNIPwD9I2PHEG0

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Indonesian volcano blows again, biggest eruption yet

Tue Sep 7, 2010 5:38am GMT

By Tarmizy Harva

BERASTEPU, Indonesia (Reuters) - An Indonesian volcano that lay dormant for 400 years shot ash 5 km (3 miles) into the air on Tuesday, its biggest eruption since it became active last week, and experts warned of more blasts to come.

Mount Sinabung, in northern Sumatra island, first erupted on August 29. Villages on its slopes have been evacuated and around 24,500 people are living in refugee camps, disaster officials said.

"It was the biggest eruption yet and the sound was heard from 8 kilometres away. The smoke was 5,000 metres in the air," said Indonesia's chief vulcanologist, Surono. "I think this will not be the last eruption. It will happen again," he said.

A Reuters photographer at the scene said the ground shook for around three minutes during the blast.

Full article: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE6860QQ20100907

"Mount Sinabung is near Lake Toba, a 100-kilometre long volcanic crater that some archaeologists believe almost wiped out the human race when it erupted 69,000-77,000 years ago." Quote from here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/09/20109403159411909.html

Raw video from RT dated September 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr6p1Inkfm8

Still waiting for recent photos/videos. Some photos from earlier eruptions were posted http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4527479">here.