Indonesia's Mount Sinabung Erupts, Spews Ash 2.6 Miles Into Air | The Weather Channel
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Indonesia's Sinabung volcano erupted, sending ash miles into the air.

ByPam WrightAugust 2, 2017




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A massive eruption Wednesday of Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra spewed volcanic ash as high as 2.6 miles into the air.

According to the Associated Press, the eruption on the 8,080-foot volcano was one of the biggest over the past several months and was followed by at least 19 smaller eruptions and lava flows.

Thick, hot ash fell on nearly a dozen local villages, prompting at least one school in Kuta Rakyat to send students home. So far, there are no reports of injuries.

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Sutopo Purwo Nugroho of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said thousands of people are affected by the ash.

Nugroho noted that villagers need face masks and clean water, and also warned of possible flash floods after a natural dam was created by the ash and lava flow on the Laborus River.

Sinabung became active in 2010 after a long period of dormancy, according to the Smithsonian Institute. At least 17 people have died from periodic eruptions and more than 30,000 were forced to evacuate their villages, the AP reported.


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Residents ride in a truck as Mount Sinabung releases pyroclastic flows during its eruption in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Endro Rusharyanto)