Indonesia ups alert level on Sumatra volcano

INDONESIA: Indonesia has raised the alert level for Mount Talang on Sumatra island following increased smoke and tremors, a vulcanologist said Monday.

"The status was raised on March 17 at 7:00 pm," said Dalifa Marjusi from the local vulcanology office.

Marjusi said increased activity has been reported from the peak of the 2,597-metre (8,673 foot) high volcano in West Sumatra province, prompting the rise to three of four possible levels.

"The smoke is reaching heights of up to 800 metres (2,672 feet)," he told AFP. He said local Solok district authorities were immediately notified of the rise. A coordination meeting was held on Sunday night with district authorities to prepare for a possible eruption should the alert level reach four.

The Solok district chief, Gusmal, told AFP some 41,000 people may need to be evacuated from the slope of the mountain should an eruption prove imminent. "There is yet no plan to evacuate them, but we are now preparing in case the alert status is raised," Gusmal said.

More than 25,000 residents were evacuated in April 2005 from the slopes of Mount Talang as the volcano heightened its rumbling and spewed volcanic ash.

Indonesia sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", where continental plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Jakarta. Monday AFP