Mount Sirung erupts in Alor

Mount Sirung erupts in Alor

Yemris Fointuna, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Mount Sirung in Alor, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), started to erupt on Thursday, discharging white ash, thick black fumes, mud and volcanic rocks. No casualties were reported.

According to Stanis Tefa of the NTT Natural Disaster and Refugee Management task force on Friday, the Alor regental government has established disaster relief posts to anticipate the waves of refugees in case the volcanic activity increased.

There was no official report on losses suffered by residents but he confirmed that dozens of hectares of farmland and conservation forests at the foot of the mountain had started to dry up.

"I have just received reports that volcanic activities are still going on, shown by the thick fumes and hot ash shooting up to a height of more than 50 meters. No casualties have been reported but dozens of homes are blanketed by hot ash and plantations have start to wither," Stanis said in Kupang on Friday.

He said, NTT Governor Piet A. Tallo had prepared emergency assistance in the form of rice and medicine and would immediately send them if there were requests from Alor.

Villages on high alert status were Kaka, Mauta, Alalao, Air Mama, Bier, Talayang, Kalialang, Kamahe, Kakabojadi and Beangabung.

Mount Sirung is one of the active volcanoes located in the west of Pantar island, Alor regency. The mountain is 862 meters above sea level and has erupted in 1852, 1899, 1927, 1934, 1947, 1953, 1960, 1975 and 1998.