Indonesia warns of further eruptions after Mount Sinabung spews ash

Indonesian officials warned on Monday against the prospect of further eruptions from an active volcano on the island of Sumatra after it emitted a huge column of ash, causing panic among residents.

A column of thick ash was spewed seven km high to the sky from the crater of Mount Sinabung volcano in Sumatra Island of western Indonesia on Sunday, the country's national volcanology agency said.

Belching of ash and smoke was shot at 16:28 p.m. Jakarta time, followed by a spread of hot ash to the southeast and south of the crater by up to 3.5 km and three km respectively, the agency said in a statement.

The agency, however, said there was so far no report of damages or casualty.

Mt. Sinabung volcano is at the second highest alert level with no-go zone of five km from the crater, it said.

Residents living near the flank of the volcano were urged to use masks when rains of ash pour down, spokesman of national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Mt. Sinabung, 2,475 meters high, is located in Karo district of North Sumatra province. In its eruption in 2014, 16 people were killed and thousands displaced.

Mt. Sinabung is among 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia.