Indonesian volcano erupts

JAKARTA: A volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years on Sunday, spewing a vast cloud of smoke and ash into the air and sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes.

Indonesia issued a red alert after the Sinabung volcano erupted, blanketing the area in thick and acrid black smoke, disaster officials said, although no casualties have yet been reported.

The 2,460-metre Sinabung in northern Sumatra has not erupted for more than 400 years.

Villagers said they saw lava emerge from the crater around midnight, about 15 minutes before the eruption. — AFP