Residents near Soputan told to stay alert

Yongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado, North Sulawesi

Volcanic activities at Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi province diminished on Saturday, but residents were advised to remain on full alert as there was a possibility of bigger eruptions, and to stay indoors to prevent the development of respiratory problems.

Prof. Dr. Winsy Warouw, who chairs the medical committee at Manado's Malayang Hospital, said villagers must limit outdoor activities, as volcanic dust particles were dangerous to their health.

"These particles contain sulfur and other chemical substances that can damage our health. The ash is particularly dangerous to those suffering from asthma," he told The Jakarta Post.

Warouw made the warning as he continued to monitor the impact of the volcano's eruptions on resident's health.

He said that particles from the volcano could cause serious respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, coughs or laryngitis.

The doctor advised residents to wear facial masks when outdoors, and to shower several times daily to clean the dust from their bodies.

The Soputan volcano, located near Tomohon village in Minahasa regency, erupted on Friday morning, belching smoke up to 1,500 meters into the air and hot ashes and lava onto surrounding areas.

No casualties or injuries were reported.

The volcanic activities slowed on Saturday, with only minor eruptions continuing, said Jemmy Runtuwene, a volcanology expert at the Tomohon monitoring post.

"Although the volcano has reduced its eruptions, people are advised to remain on guard," he said.

Jemmy said Soputan continued to generate mild tremors and sporadically spewed hot ashes into the sky.

"It projects less ash than on Friday, but there are still minor eruptions and flames and lava coming from the mount's crater," he said.

He said that on Friday masses of ash and dust poured down the mountain, that is located around 23 kilometers from residential areas.

Strong winds from the northeast part of Soputan carried volcanic ash over neighboring areas in Minahasa and Manado, he added.

According to Jemmy, the ash found covering houses in the subdistricts of Kawangkoan, Tombasian and Tareran was up to three millimeters thick.

However, none of the local residents were forced to flee to safer areas, he added.

Jemmy said he and other volcanologists were ordered by authorities to continue monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day.

Mount Soputan first erupted in 1785. The largest eruption was in 1989 but there were no casualties. The volcano has continued to produce lava over the past three years.

In July 2000, the mountain erupted, shooting lava 50 meters into the air. Explosions and ash emissions continued until August 2000.

Indonesia has the world's highest density of volcanoes with 500 located within a so-called "Belt of Fire" along the 3,000- mile-long archipelago. Of these, 128 are active and 65 are listed as dangerous.