I was shocked when I saw a cloud of ashes rise up to the sky."Kupang (ANTARA News) - Mount Rokatenda in Palue island, East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted early Saturday, spewing ash onto a number of villages on the island.
The eruption, which occurred at nearly 01.00 a.m., also was accompanied by earthquakes, local resident Bertolomeus Pelle said.
"I was shocked when I saw a cloud of ashes rise up to the sky," Pelle said.
He noted that gravel and volcanic ash fell on a number of villages, including Awa Male hamlet where he lived.
"The eruption this morning was larger and more dangerous than previous ones," he added.
He said he had reported the eruption of the volcano to the sub-district administration so follow-up action might be taken, including evacuating residents from a number of affected villages.
Another resident, Markus Mego, also reported a cloud of volcanic ash coming from the volcano at around 01.00 a.m. local time.
There was no immediate report of injuries or casualties.
"We are still uncertain about whether or not the eruption has claimed lives, because we are still monitoring the conditions in the field," he said.
The eruption, which produced a number of earthquakes and an outpouring of lava igniting the peak on Manunai hill bordering Mount Rokatenda, was one of the largest ever recorded, local resident Diakon Ven Nahak SVD said.
"The eruption was the fourth in the past couple of weeks," he said.
Benny Daga, a member of the SAR team at the Sikka District Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD), said "We are on the way to Palue. We don`t know whether or not the eruption has claimed lives.
Sikka Deputy District Head Paulus Nong Susar said the local government had taken a number of steps to help victims of the natural disaster.
"All elements of the local government are heading for Palaue to evacuate victims and extend humanitarian aid," he said.
(Uu.S012/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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