Thousands flee Indonesian volcano

[Hvr]

Indonesia has issued a red alert after the Sinabung volcano on the western island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years.

The volcano spewed smoke and ash 1,500 metres into the air, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from the Karo district in North Sumatra on Sunday.


"Initially we thought the ash and smoke were triggered by rain but now we know the driving pressure was from magma," Surono, the head of the nation's volcano disaster alert centre, told the AFP news agency.


"It's clearly dangerous so we've raised the warning to the highest level, or red level. From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 metres into the sky," he added.

I hope this doesn't mean massive disruption to flights at this end of the world.

Still I am glad I have already purchased travel insurance for my next two overseas trips. If anything happens then I should be covered.

 

[samh004]

Based on it’s location it could do more harm to Singapore’s flights than Australia’s, but reports seem to indicate a minor eruption, even if the ash went up 1.5km.

 

[markis10]

Its not over yet:

VOLCANO: Sinabung 0601-08
PSN: N0310 E09823
AREA: Sumatra
SUMMIT ELEV: 2460M

ADVISORY NR: 2010/1
INFO SOURCE: CVGHM
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: RED
ERUPTION DETAILS: CVGHM REPORTED VA TO FL140

OBS VA DTG: 29/0415Z
OBS VA CLD: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE FROM SATELLITE DATA


FCST VA CLD +6HR: 29/1015Z

FCST VA CLD +12HR: 29/1615Z

FCST VA CLD +18HR: 29/2215Z


RMK: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE ON SAT IMAGERY. CVGHM HAS RAISED THE
ALERT LEVEL TO 4 [HIGHEST] SUGGESTING A HIGH LEVEL ERUPTION MAY
BE IMMINENT, SITUATION WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED. Graphic at
[lower case] BoM-Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
NXT ADVISORY: NO FURTHER ADVISORIES.

 

[serfty]

Its about 300 Km from KUL so mor of an issue there.

Sinabung to Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Google Maps

 

[markis10]

The Wind is making it head West, it was worse today:

Volcanic Ash Graphics 7