Indonesia volcano erupts again, forces evacuations

Mount Sinabung spews volcanic materials as the minaret of a mosque is seen in the foreground in Brastepu, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. There are more than 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. AP

JAKARTA — A volcano in western Indonesia has erupted again, unleashing volcanic ash high into the sky and forcing the evacuation of villagers around its slope.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency says 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) -high Mount Sinabung erupted early Sunday.

It says authorities are working to evacuate residents from four villages located within the danger zone of 3 kilometers (2 miles). So far, nearly 1,300 villagers have been relocated to safer areas.

The volcano, located in North Sumatra province, last erupted October 24. In September, more than 15,000 people were forced to flee when it rumbled to life after being dormant for three years.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”