2,000 flee as Mt. Egon erupts<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
Mount Egon in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted for the second
\ntime in months, forcing the evacuation of some 2,000 villagers
\nfrom the slopes of the volcano, officials said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The villagers evacuated their homes as the mountain, located
\nin Sikka regency, belched out rocks, sand, ash and lava.<\/p>\n
No casualties were reported as white smoke spewed into the air
\nup to a height of 3,000 meters.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible there will be more eruptions that cause much
\nmore damage. Therefore, vulcanologists recommend that the
\nmountain be closed off to all people,\" Sikka Regent Alex
\nLongginus said.<\/p>\n
He said villagers were still being evacuated, with the process
\nbeing slowed by the difficulties faced by vehicles operating on
\nthe slopes of the mountain.<\/p>\n
The Sikka regency administration and the local Volcanology and
\nGeological Disaster Mitigation Agency have declared an alert
\nstatus and have ordered people away from the volcano.<\/p>\n
Alex said Mount Egon began to erupt on Sunday, affecting
\nthousands of hectares of cacao, coffee, vanilla and clove
\nplantations.<\/p>\n
\"The government has provided emergency assistance to the
\nvictims, including medicine and food,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Volcano monitors began warning of increased volcanic activity
\nat Egon in January this year.<\/p>\n
Mount Egon last erupted in July, spewing out sand, rock and
\nash. Vulcanologists said the volcano belched out fumes between
\n500 and 700 meters high at the time.<\/p>\n
Mount Egon is one of numerous Type B active volcanoes in
\nIndonesia. Its crater is 525 meters-by-425 meters in diameter,
\nand has a depth of between 47.5 meters and 195 meters. The
\nmountain stands at a height of 1,701 meters.<\/p>",
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