Sumatra , thousands of people flee eruption of Sinabung volcano
Jakarta (AsiaNews ) - Almost 6 thousand displaced people are fleeing the eruption of the volcano Sinabung , in Karo , North Sumatra Province , Indonesia. According to the authorities - who maintain maximum alert and are monitoring the evolution of the situation - the number is expected to increase exponentially in the coming hours . Mount Sinabung is 2,400 meters high and in the summer of 2010 had already resumed activity after being dormant for centuries ( the last episode dated back to 1600) , causing over 12 thousand displaced persons and a thick blanket of smoke and fog.
Yesterday morning, at dawn, the
volcano began to erupt violently tossing rocks , lava and ash , which affected
the surrounding villages . Thousands
fled their homes for safety in secure areas. At
first the number of refugees was 3,710 , but according to estimates provided by
the authorities today the number is already approaching 5,956 and seems likely
to increase.
For
the experts there may be other eruptions after the main one yesterday, no less
dangerous in scope. The
displaced people are from six different villages, which are located within
three kilometers from the summit of the volcano . They
are Simacem , Bekerah , Sukameriah , Sukanalu Teran , Sigarang - Garang , and
Mardinding and are located in the Namanteran sub -district.
Rescuers
have set up an emergency center providing food, drinks , blankets and basic
necessities to be distributed to the displaced. Because
of ash and lava spills, there are no direct flights to the main airport in
North Sumatra , Kualanamu , with flights being diverted to other safer airports.
Many flights have
also been canceled.
The
Indonesian archipelago is made up of thousands of islands and atolls surrounded
by the Pacific Ocean, in an area known by scientists as the "Ring of
Fire". It is characterized by intense volcanic and seismic activity,
caused by the collision of several continental plates. Memories of the
devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the region in December
2004 are still alive in peoples minds, with an epicenter off the coast of Aceh,
causing hundreds of thousands of victims throughout Asia. On 30 October 2009,
another strong earthquake affected the area of Padang resulting in about 700
deaths. Over 180 houses were razed to the ground.
21/08/2020 15:57
06/12/2021 11:08