Thousands flee as Mt. Talang erupts
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Padang/Bandung
After a series of earthquakes that have rattled many cities in Sumatra, the Mount Talang volcano in Solok regency, West Sumatra erupted on Tuesday, sending hot ash high into the air and causing residents living on its slopes to flee to safety.
The 2,572-meter volcano spewed hot ash 10 meters high at 3 a.m., causing a layer of ash 20 centimeters thick to settle over five villages on its slopes. No casualties have been reported so far.
Solok regent Gamawan Fauzi told The Jakarta Post by phone on Tuesday that some 20,000 residents in the regency's five villages -- Nagari Batu Alam, Bukit Sileh, Batu Bajanjang, Koto Laweh and Air Batumbuk -- have been evacuated to safer places following the eruption.
"The regental administration has helped by providing trucks and buses to take residents to school buildings and district offices, as well as setting up tents," he said.
He said there was no reason to panic as the interval between eruptions had decreased as of Tuesday afternoon, but said he would only send residents back home after he had received reports from experts sent to inspect the site.
Chairman of the Indonesian Geological Association in West Sumatra, Ade Edwar, told the Post by phone from Solok that the eruption was likely triggered by the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Padang on Sunday. The epicenter of Sunday's earthquake lies near Siberut island, some 115 kilometers west of the city.
Mount Talang itself lies 40 kilometers east of Padang.
In Bandung, director of volcanology, mitigation and geological disasters, Yousana OP Siagian, said the eruption was likely to have been triggered by the two recent massive earthquakes, the epicenters of which were located in the western coastal area of Sumatra.
Parts of the island of Sumatra are still recovering from the quake-triggered tsunami that swept Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra in December last year. In March, another massive earthquake again devastated its western coastal area, with Nias island being worst affected.
"Before April 10 this year, the volcano's status was still normal. It suddenly showed increased activity on April 10 and 11 and then started spewing hot ash (on Tuesday)," Yousana said, warning that tectonic earthquakes might, theoretically, rattle lava deep inside the earth causing it to move to the surface.
The volcanology, mitigation and geological disaster office put the volcano on a "watch" status on Monday after recording 24 tectonic earthquakes near Solok on April 10. The next day, the volcano's status was increased to alert, after 51 regular earthquakes and 158 volcanic earthquakes were recorded.
He said the local administration had been asked to evacuate residents, especially those living in Bukit Sileh village, some 4.5 kilometers away from the volcano, which previously erupted on 1833, 1843, 1845, 1883, 1963, 1967, 1981 and 2001.
"But Tuesday's eruption was the biggest so far," Yousana said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to visit Padang on Wednesday, where he will meet with residents who are currently staying in emergency shelters.