Seven Dead After Volcano Erupts in Indonesia

The volcano was spewing ash till Sunday, making rescue operations more difficult.

Villager carries his belongings after Mount Sinabung erupted on Saturday. (Photo: AP)

• Seven people have died and two are in critical condition after Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island erupted on Saturday. The army and police are still searching for survivors in the area.
  
  
• The 2,460-metre tall volcano is among the country’s most active. Since a few years, the government has imposed several red zones near Sinabung’s crater, including the village of Gamber where the nine people were found, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
  
  
• The volcano, about 1,900 km northwest of Jakarta, was spewing hot ashes as of Sunday, making it dangerous for search and rescue, according to BNPB. Indonesia, located on the Pacific Rim of Fire, has more than 120 active volcanoes.
  

(With inputs from Reuters.)