Sinabung volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra island erupts without reports of casualties

Sinabung volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra island erupts without reports of casualties 1 of 2 | Mount Sinabung on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has erupted, spewing a column of black ash into the sky. The 2,600-meter mountain erupted Monday morning and sent ash as high as 3,500 kilometers and is leaning east and southeast. 2 of 2 | In this photo released by the Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Sinabung releases volcanic materials into the air during an eruption in Karo, Sumatra" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="902" data-entity-type="location">North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP) 1 of 2 Mount Sinabung on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has erupted, spewing a column of black ash into the sky. The 2,600-meter mountain erupted Monday morning and sent ash as high as 3,500 kilometers and is leaning east and southeast. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 2 | In this photo released by the Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Sinabung releases volcanic materials into the air during an eruption in Karo, Sumatra" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="902" data-entity-type="location">North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP) 2 of 2 In this photo released by the Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Sinabung releases volcanic materials into the air during an eruption in Karo, Sumatra" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="902" data-entity-type="location">North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) — Mount Sinabung on Indonesia erupted Monday, spewing a column of black ash and smoke 3,500 meters (11,482 feet) from the top of the mountain into the sky over Sumatra island.There were no immediate reports of casualties, evacuations or disruptions to flights in the region. But residents, visitors and tourists were advised to refrain from activities in nearby villages in Karo district in Sumatra" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="902" data-entity-type="location">North Sumatra province and areas within 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of the summit.Roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in Karo affected by the eruption were covered in gray ash. Local authorities distributed masks to residents to protect themselves.Officials raised the volcano alert level to “Watch,” the second-highest level for volcanic activity, which expanded the safe zone around the 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) mountain. “This eruption is considered an initial eruption, and it is possible that a larger eruption could occur,” Lana Saria, chief of Indonesia’s Geological Agency, said in a statement Monday.The agency previously recorded visual evidence of Mount Sinabung’s increased activity in mid-August including dozens of earthquakes and expanded the recommended radius for public activities.About 30,000 people have been forced to leave their homes around Sinabung in the past few years because of volcanic activity. 1 MIN READ 3 MIN READ 4 MIN READ Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 280 million people with frequent seismic activity and Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes. The country is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.