"The ash fell as far as into Kinilow I, Kinilow and Tinoor areas, North Tomohon sub district, which are quite close to Mont Lokon`s crater," Farid Ruskanda Bina, the head of the Mt Lokon and Mahawu Kakaskaben monitoring post, said here on Wednesday.
A total of 25 volcanic tremors were recorded during the first six hours of Wednesday, the volcanic ash has increased since Tuesday (Aug 16).
"The volcanic tremors continue being detected which indicates the volcano`s intensified activities," he said.
Earlier on August 14 and 17, 2011, Mt Lokon had erupted. Its status was lowered from the fourth level or watchful to the third level or alert.
Mount Lokon`s activities had increased since June prompting the authorities to rise its status to alert on June 27, 2011, and later watchful status on July 10, 2011.
As the volcano had erupted several times, 5,369 residents Kinilow, Kelurahan Kinilow 1 and Kakaskasen 1 villages had been evacuated to several refugee camps.
On Sunday (July 24), the Tomohon authorities returned about 5,000 refugees to their respective homes at Kakaskasen 1, Kinilow and Kinilow 1.
Some 222 refugees remain at City Park refugee camp, because their homes are located in the red zone which is within three kilometer radius from the volcano`s crater.
Indonesia has 129 volcanoes including Mount Lokon (1,580 m).
The previous major eruption of Mount Lokon in 1991 killed a Swiss hiker and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
