Mount Sinabung Erupts Violently, Volcanic Ash Column Reaches 3.5 km

Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, has experienced a violent eruption. The eruption spewed a thick volcanic ash column approximately 3,500 metres, or 3.5 kilometres, above the summit.

Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Lana Saria, reported that the volcanic eruption was recorded starting at 10.17 WIB and is still ongoing.

“The ash column was observed to be black in colour with thick intensity, leaning towards the east and southeast. This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 120 mm and a duration so far of approximately 1 hour 1 minute 48 seconds,” she said in her statement, as reported by Antara, Monday (31/8/2026).

Lana explained that Mount Sinabung is currently at Status Level II (Alert). Given these conditions, the Geological Agency has issued recommendations that the public and tourists refrain from carrying out activities in villages that have been relocated.

In addition, residents are prohibited from carrying out activities within the danger zone with a radius of three kilometres from the summit, as well as a sectoral radius of 4.5 kilometres for the south-east area.

Residents living along river basins originating from Mount Sinabung are also urged to increase their vigilance against the potential danger of cold lava floods.

The Geological Agency has asked the Karo Regency Government to continue coordinating actively with the Sinabung Volcano Observation Post and the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to monitor the latest developments in volcanic activity.