Huge ash cloud as Indonesia's Mount Soputan erupts - Reuters

Source: Reuters

Huge ash cloud as Indonesia's Mount Soputan erupts
25 Oct 2007 05:10:23 GMT
Source: Reuters

JAKARTA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Mount Soputan volcano on
the northern tip of Indonesia's Sulawesi island has
erupted, throwing columns of ash 1,000 metres (3,300 ft)
into the air, an official said on Friday. Saut Simatupang,
of Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological
Hazard Mitigation, said that the eruption did not appear
to pose an immediate threat to residents, although ash
had reached the nearest town.

"From the data that we have, it is only spraying ash
without other volcanic material," he said by telephone.
"It is not so dangerous but we suggest people wear a
mask so they will not suffer from respiratory problems."

The nearest village to Soputan, 2,175 km (1,351 miles)
northeast of the capital Jakarta, is located 11 km from
its crater.

In August, Soputan also spewed ash and rocks, although
Simatupang said that a few days ago the volcano was
calm.

A local official said that no evacuation had been ordered.

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