Indonesian Volcano Causes 21,000 People to be Evacuated

New reports now show that 21,000 people have had to be evacuated due to an Indonesian volcano that continues to spew up ash for miles around. Airplanes have been diverted from this area for more than two days in a row now. However, some experts say that this could just be the start of the problems.

Reports show that towering clouds of ash are being spewed out of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra. The thousands of people that are living on this mountain’s slopes have been forced to head to emergency shelters and churches.

Many homes and fields around this area have been covered in a very heavy, gray soot. This is the same kind of soot that, when in the air, can cause problems for airplanes. People in the area have reported smelling the very thick smell of sulphur in the air.

For those that have not been keeping track, Mt Sinabung last erupted in 1600. Observers do not know this volcano’s eruption pattern and admitted that this place has not been closely monitored. Although this volcano will now be monitored more, it does not help the people that are having to deal with it now.

So far two people have already died due to the eruption. One died from a breathing problem and the other from a heart attack. Two people are currently suffering from injuries in road accidents.

Right now experts say that larger blasts could have the potential to obscure visibility. This would affect air traffic nearby. Already, many domestic flights heading to the provincial capital of Medan have been diverted.