People flee as volcano erupts

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Hundreds of residents fled their homes on Sunday for safer areas on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara after Mount Egon erupted again.

The 1,701 meter volcano in Sikka regency belched out ash and sulfuric gases over the regental capital of Maumere on Saturday night, according to Pater Huber Thomas of the Flores Humanitarian Voluntary Team (TRUK-F).

No injuries were reported, but Sikka Regent Alex Longginus prohibited residents on the slope of the mountain from approaching the volcano that continued to spew hot ash on Sunday.

The volcano previously erupted on Jan. 29 this year and in 1907. --JP