A volcano erupted in Indonesia's North Sulawesi Province on Friday morning, sending hot clouds and volcanic ashes to four kilometers away, an official said.
"The eruptions continue although they become less often now," Ahmad Djumarma, a director under the ministry of energy and mineral resources, was quoted by Detikcom online news service as saying.
The 1,800-meter Soputan Mountain, located in Minahasa regency, erupted at 06:30 local time Friday (23:30 GMT Thursday), but no reports of damage and casualty are immediately available.
Ahmad said the volcano contains some 23.5 million cubic meters of lava.
Following the eruptions, the Sam Ratulangi Airport in the provincial capital of Manado, some 2,400 km northeast of Jakarta, sent warning to planes passing the area although activities at the airport remain normal.
Local authorities have announced the second degree of alertness.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2003)
|