Thousands flee after volcano erupts in Indonesia

The eruption did not disturb flight at the main airport in the area, spokesman of the transport ministry Bambang Ervan said.

The authorities issued a top red alert after Mount Sinabung began spewing hot lava shortly after midnight, head of the nation' s volcano disaster alert center called Surono told Xinhua by phone, saying the agency has not confirmed yet the decreasing of the seismic activity.

"We will monitor the activity intensively. Before we reach conclusion that the condition is safe, we recommend those living in the radius of 6 kilometers to leave the area," said Surono.

The sudden eruption of the 2,400-meter-high Mount Sinabung triggered panic among villagers as authorities particularly in North Sumatra province prepared for emergency relief, spokesman of National Disaster Management Agency Priyadi Kardono said.

Secretary of the provincial administration Edy Sofyan told Xinhua by phone that they had distributed thousands of masks and medicine to the evacuees; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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