Mt. Lokon in N. Sulawesi spews out ash

Mt. Lokon in N. Sulawesi spews out ash

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The authorities in Minahasa called on locals to stay alert as Mt. Lokon spewed out ash early on Friday following a strong eruption the day before.

No casualties were reported during the eruption.

Jemmy Runtuwene, a staff member of the volcanology office in Manado, said the local administration had also asked sand miners and mount climbers not to go near the area around the mountain since it could start spewing out molten lava sometime in the future.

"Since Thursday, the mountain spewed out hot ashes that have spread in a two-kilometer area around the mountain. No people are permitted to climb the mount or excavate sand from the rivers flowing from forests on the mountain's slope," he said. -- Antara