The number of evacuees has increased to 19,126 as Mount Sinabung erupts lava since yesterday, Indonesia’s Antara news agency reported National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Sutopo Purwo Nugroho as saying in Medan today.

“Mount Sinabung has erupted seven times since Monday. It spews 1,200 to 7,000 metres of smoke on to the air. Hot clouds from the eruption are streaming down 3.5 kilometres south-east,” Sutopo said.

According to Antara , Mount Sinabung is still on a “high alert”. The disaster mitigation agency requested people not to carry out any any activities within five kilometers radius of Mount Sinabung.

People living south-east of Mount Sinabung have been asked to leave the area  to avoid possible casualty due to the lava stream and hot clouds.

- Bernama