Volcanic grumbling in Aceh

SIGLI, Aceh: Peut Sagoe and Tutong twin volcanoes in Geumpang district of the Pidie regency have been active over the past couple of days.

Eruptions occurred every three to five minutes, spraying volcanic ash across nearby villages and forcing some residents to flee their homes.

"The thick black ash is spewing out of the volcanoes up to 300 meters and 1,500 meters high and people living nearby, such as in the transmigration area of Gumpang, are anxious," Muhammad Nazir, a staff member at the volcanology post in Geumpang said on Wednesday.

The twin volcanoes are part of the Bukit Barisan mountain range, about 175 kilometers south of Aceh's capital Banda Aceh. Early this year the activities of the volcanoes intensified, but no explosions took place. (51/edt)