Breaking News

Sinabung Volcano erupts in Indonesia, forcing evacuations

By Jareen Imam, CNN

Updated 1604 GMT (0004 HKT) June 6, 2015

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Hide Caption
1 of 25
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
Hide Caption
2 of 25
The Turrialba volcano spews smoke and ash in May 2016 in Cartago, Costa Rica. Experts say it is the strongest eruption from the volcano in the past six years.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Turrialba volcano spews smoke and ash in May 2016 in Cartago, Costa Rica. Experts say it is the strongest eruption from the volcano in the past six years.
Hide Caption
3 of 25
The Pavlof volcano erupts on Alaska's remote Aleutian Island archipelago in March 2016.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Pavlof volcano erupts on Alaska's remote Aleutian Island archipelago in March 2016.
Hide Caption
4 of 25
The Ecuadorian volcano Tungurahua spews lava and ash in Cahuaji, about 80 miles south of Quito, in February 2016. Authorities raised the alert level from yellow to orange after the volcano increased its activity and projected a column of ash 3 miles high.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Ecuadorian volcano Tungurahua spews lava and ash in Cahuaji, about 80 miles south of Quito, in February 2016. Authorities raised the alert level from yellow to orange after the volcano increased its activity and projected a column of ash 3 miles high.
Hide Caption
5 of 25
The Soputan volcano spews lava and ash during an eruption on Indonesia's Sulawesi island in January 2016.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Soputan volcano spews lava and ash during an eruption on Indonesia's Sulawesi island in January 2016.
Hide Caption
6 of 25
The Momotombo volcano erupts just before daybreak in Leon, Nicaragua, on December 4, 2015. The volcano had been quiet for many years.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Momotombo volcano erupts just before daybreak in Leon, Nicaragua, on December 4, 2015. The volcano had been quiet for many years.
Hide Caption
7 of 25
Smoke rises over the Italian city of Taormina during an eruption of Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, in December 2015.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Smoke rises over the Italian city of Taormina during an eruption of Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, in December 2015.
Hide Caption
8 of 25
Cotopaxi, a volcano in Ecuador, sends large gray puffs of ash into the sky on August 14, 2015. Officials <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/15/americas/ecuador-japan-volcanoes/index.html">declared a yellow alert</a>, the lowest level.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Cotopaxi, a volcano in Ecuador, sends large gray puffs of ash into the sky on August 14, 2015. Officials declared a yellow alert, the lowest level.
Hide Caption
9 of 25
Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1246978">Mount Sinabung</a> in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from Mount Sinabung in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
Hide Caption
10 of 25
Mount Shindake spews ash on Kuchinoerabu Island in Yakushima, Japan, in May 2015. The volcano <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/29/asia/japan-volcano-evacuation/index.html" target="_blank">erupted shortly before 10 a.m. local time</a>, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Mount Shindake spews ash on Kuchinoerabu Island in Yakushima, Japan, in May 2015. The volcano erupted shortly before 10 a.m. local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Hide Caption
11 of 25
The Wolf volcano at Isabela Island -- the largest of the Galapagos Islands west of mainland Ecuador -- erupts May 25, 2015 <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/26/americas/galapagos-volcano-erupts/">for the first time in 33 years.</a>
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Wolf volcano at Isabela Island -- the largest of the Galapagos Islands west of mainland Ecuador -- erupts May 25, 2015 for the first time in 33 years.
Hide Caption
12 of 25
The Calbuco volcano erupts near Puerto Varas, Chile, in April 2015.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Calbuco volcano erupts near Puerto Varas, Chile, in April 2015.
Hide Caption
13 of 25
Smoke rises from the Turrialba volcano in Turrialba, Costa Rica, in March 2015. Eruptions of ash and stones prompted authorities to evacuate residential areas.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Smoke rises from the Turrialba volcano in Turrialba, Costa Rica, in March 2015. Eruptions of ash and stones prompted authorities to evacuate residential areas.
Hide Caption
14 of 25
The Fuego volcano spews a cloud of ash west of Guatemala City, Guatemala, in March 2015.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Fuego volcano spews a cloud of ash west of Guatemala City, Guatemala, in March 2015.
Hide Caption
15 of 25
Villarrica, a Chilean volcano, began erupting in March 2015. The volcano is one of Chile's most active.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Villarrica, a Chilean volcano, began erupting in March 2015. The volcano is one of Chile's most active.
Hide Caption
16 of 25
Lava flows from the Kilauea volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii, in October 2014. The flow picked up speed, prompting emergency officials to close part of the main road through town and tell residents to be prepared to evacuate.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Lava flows from the Kilauea volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii, in October 2014. The flow picked up speed, prompting emergency officials to close part of the main road through town and tell residents to be prepared to evacuate.
Hide Caption
17 of 25
Japan's Mount Sakurajima erupts in September 2014. It was the second volcano in two days to erupt in Japan.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Japan's Mount Sakurajima erupts in September 2014. It was the second volcano in two days to erupt in Japan.
Hide Caption
18 of 25
Dense white plumes rise high in the air as Mount Ontake erupts in central Japan in September 2014.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Dense white plumes rise high in the air as Mount Ontake erupts in central Japan in September 2014.
Hide Caption
19 of 25
Mount Slamet spews lava and gas during an eruption in Brebes, Indonesia, in September 2014.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Mount Slamet spews lava and gas during an eruption in Brebes, Indonesia, in September 2014.
Hide Caption
20 of 25
Fountains of lava spurt from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland in September 2014.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Fountains of lava spurt from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland in September 2014.
Hide Caption
21 of 25
Mount Tavurvur erupts in Papua New Guinea in August 2014, forcing local communities to evacuate.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Mount Tavurvur erupts in Papua New Guinea in August 2014, forcing local communities to evacuate.
Hide Caption
22 of 25
The Karymsky volcano erupts in Kamchatka, Russia, in January 2013.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Karymsky volcano erupts in Kamchatka, Russia, in January 2013.
Hide Caption
23 of 25
The Copahue volcano emits smoke and ash above Caviahue, in Argentina's Neuquen province, in December 2012.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
The Copahue volcano emits smoke and ash above Caviahue, in Argentina's Neuquen province, in December 2012.
Hide Caption
24 of 25
Western Mexico's Colima volcano emits lava in October 2004. The Global Volcanism Program reported "a bright thermal anomaly" as well as gas emission in November 2013.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
Western Mexico's Colima volcano emits lava in October 2004. The Global Volcanism Program reported "a bright thermal anomaly" as well as gas emission in November 2013.
Hide Caption
25 of 25
Bogoslof file 328 week in photos 0526Turrialba volcano costa ricapavlof volcano alaskaEcuador volcano Tungurahuamount soputan erupts - RESTRICTEDMomotombo volcano 1204Mount Etna 1204Volcano spews ash Ecuador Cotopaxi_00000000Sinabung volcano irpt RESTRICTED 01 mount shindake 0529Galapagos Volcano 0526chile volcano 6Turrialba volcano - RESTRICTEDfuego volcano 0312 - RESTRICTEDvolcano chile getty oneKīlauea volcano01 japan volcano 0930japan.volcano.01.AP92432357900701 mount slamet 091901 Bardarbunga 090401 Mount Tavurvur 082904 volcano karymsky06 volcano capahue07 volcano

Story highlights

  • Increased volcanic activity from Indonesia's Mount Sinabung has prompted thousands to evacuate
  • The country's national disaster management agency has raised the alert level

(CNN)Thick plumes of volcanic ash and flowing lava are spewing from Mount Sinabung.

About 2,700 people have been evacuated from the Indonesian island of Sumatra because of the increased volcanic activity in the region during the past two weeks.
    Those who have been evacuated are from four villages south and southeast of the volcano's crater.
    BNPB, the national disaster management agency for Indonesia, raised the alert status level for the volcano on Friday.
    Earlier in the week, Mount Sinabung's lava dome, rounded mounds built by thick magma, had increased volume and was unstable, BNPB reported.

    hari kelapan : puteri masih malu malu dan tukar hala tuju

    A photo posted by Visual Diary (@zikskyy) on

    Read More
    Photography student Ahmad Zikri Mohamad Zuki, 23, has been capturing the eruption for the past week on Instagram.
    For the past week, he said pyroclastic flows -- avalanche-like hot ash, rocks and gas -- have been rushing down the sides of Mount Sinabung. These pyroclastic flows can cascade down a volcano as fast as 60 miles per hour. And temperatures can soar above 932 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
    Zuki, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said he was surprised but also excited to see the volcano come to life again. He has been documenting Mount Sinabung's volcanic activity since 2014.
      The country's government agencies have set up public shelters and kitchens to aid those who have evacuated, and volcanic activity will continue to be monitored by Indonesian authorities.
      The Indonesian archipelago consists of more than 13,000 islands and more than 75% of Indonesian residents live within 62 miles of volcanoes that have had some activity during the last century, according to USGS.

      CNN's Deanna Hackney contributed to this story.