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In Pictures: Indonesia volcano

North Sumatra volcano spews blistering gas, sending panicked residents streaming down the sides of the mountain.

Indonesian villagers evacuated their cows as Mount Sinabung spewed volcanic ashes on Berastepu village in North Sumatra.
Published On 14 Feb 2014

The Mount Sinabung volcano in western Indonesia has sporadically erupted since September, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Authorities extended a danger zone around the rumbling volcano on Sunday after it spewed blistering gas farther than expected, sending panicked residents streaming down the sides of the mountain.

More than 19,000 people have been evacuated from villages in risky areas around the crater.
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The 2,600-metre volcano has sporadically erupted since September.
The National Disaster Management Agency ordered residents of 17 villages in Karo district in North Sumatra province to leave and seek refuge in shelters.
More than 50 eruptions on Saturday sent lava and searing gas tumbling out of Mount Sinabung down the southeastern slopes.
Eleven deaths have been recorded since September with hundreds more falling ill.
The volcano was still spitting clouds of gas and lava as high as 4,000 metres on Sunday.
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