DHAKA: A disaster official says a volcano in western Indonesia has unleashed a column of dark volcanic material high into the air weeks after villagers fled from an earlier eruption.

National Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says Thursday’s explosion at Mount Sinabung, located in North Sumatra province, shot black ash 3km into the air.

There were no reports of injuries or damage, says The Straits Times.

The spokesman says villages, farms and trees around the 2,600m volcano were covered in thick grey ash, forcing the authorities to evacuate more than 3,300 people from 11 hard-hit villages.

Last month, more than 15,000 people were forced to flee when the volcano rumbled to life. Mount Sinabung is among 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval.

BDST: 1512 HRS, OCT 24, 2013
RoR/JCK