JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A volcano in central Indonesia has erupted, ejecting columns of thick ash as high as 7,500 metres (24,606 feet) into the sky.
Mount Soputan, located on the northern part of Sulawesi island, erupted twice Sunday morning, said the national disaster agency's spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
He said in anticipation of hot ash and lava sliding down the volcano's slopes, local residents have been urged to avoid activities near the mountain.
Residents were also warned against the possible flowing of lava into rivers around the volcano, and urged to wear masks in case of ash rain.
Authorities kept the volcano's alert level at the second-highest level.
Soputan, which stands 1,784 metres (5,853 feet) tall, is one of Indonesia's more than 120 active volcanoes.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 260 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
Video erupsi Soputan yang masih berlangsung. Diambil pagi tadi pukul 06.29 WITA oleh Pengamat Gunung Api Soputan, Fahrul Roji
— MAGMA Indonesia (@id_magma)
Telah terjadi erupsi G. Soputan, Sulawesi Utara pada tanggal 16 Desember 2018 pukul 03:09 WITA dengan tinggi kolom abu teramati ± 3.000 m di atas puncak (± 4.809 m di atas permukaan laut). Kolom abu teramati berwarna kelabu dengan intensitas tebal condong ke arah tenggara.
— MAGMA Indonesia (@id_magma)
