Flores volcano activity intensifies

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Mount Egon, on Flores island in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, showed intensified signs of activity on Friday.

The volcano discharged thousands of tons of rocks, sand and hot ash, reaching a height of 5,000 meters above the crater, far higher than a day earlier, when it spewed smoke some 3,000 meters, according to Sikka Regent Alex Longginus on Friday.

At least 2,000 residents living around Mount Egon have fled to safer areas. -- JP