Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Mount Soputan in Southeast Minahasa District, North Sulawesi erupted on Saturday at 05:09 pm Central Indonesian Time (GMT+8), shooting plumes of ash 4,500 meters to the sky, an official said.

Head of Data and Information Center of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here, Saturday, on a broadcast statement that according to a report of the Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), Mount Soputan spewed pyroclastic flow to the east side of the volcano reaching 2,500 meters from its peak.

Volcanic ash were falling to several sub-districts in Southeast Minahasa District such as Silian Raya, Touluaan, Tombatu, Pasan and Rataha.

The volcano is still in alert level III status.

"There are no people evacuated as the nearest residential area is located eight kilometers from the mounts peak," Nugroho said.

In June 2008, Mount Soputan erupted and spewed pyroclastic flow reaching a radius of 6.5km from the peak.

The authority, therefore, stated that people activities are banned in the area within 6.5km radius from the Mount Soputan peak.

(T.A059/B/A059/B003)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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