Mount Sinabung
| Mount Sinabung | |
|---|---|
| Gunung Sinabung | |
 Sinabung in 1987 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,460 m (8,070 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ribu |
| Geography | |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Sunda Arc |
| Last eruption | 29 August 2010 |
Mount Sinabung (Indonesian: Gunung Sinabung) is a Pleistocene-to-Holocene stratovolcano of andesite and dacite in the Karo plateau of Karo Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Many lava flows are on its flanks and the last known eruption had occurred in the year 1600. Solfataric activity (cracks where steam, gas, and lava are emitted) were last seen at the summit in 1912, but no other documented events had taken place until the eruption in the early hours of 29 August 2010.[1][2]
Geology
Most of Indonesian volcanism stems from the Sunda Arc, created by the subduction of the Indian Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate. This arc is bounded on the north-northwest by the Andaman Islands, a chain of basaltic volcanoes, and on the east by the Banda Arc, also created by subduction.[3]
Sinabung is a long andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano with a total of four volcanic craters, only one being active.[4]
August 2010 eruption
 | This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this section may not reflect the most current information. |
On 29 August 2010, the volcano experienced a minor eruption after several days of rumbling.[5] Ash spewed into the atmosphere up to 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) and lava was seen overflowing the crater.[5] The volcano had been inactive for centuries, the last previous eruption occurring in 1600.[5]
Indonesian authority response
Indonesian authorities were reported to have evacuated around 18,000 people from the region on and around the volcano.[6] The government issued the highest-level warning for the area, which was expected to remain in force for around a week, since scientists were unfamiliar with the characteristics of the volcano, due to it having been dormant for so long.[6] The government has also set up kitchens for refugees to have access to food, and have handed out 7,000 masks. [7]
Effects
The nearest towns to the volcano are Kabanjahe and Berastagi; there were no disruptions reported to air services at the regional airport, Medan's Polonia.[8] One person is reported dead from respiratory problems while fleeing his home.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Sinabung". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
- ^ "Mount Sinabung in Sumatra erupts". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Volcanoes of Indonesia: Highlights". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ "Sinabung". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Volcano quiet for 400 years erupts in Indonesia". Associated Press. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Arlina Arshad (29 August 2010). "Thousands flee as Indonesian volcano erupts". Yahoo! News. AFP. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ "Mount Sinabung Volcano Erupts in North Sumatra, Indonesia". The News of Today. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Volcano erupts on Indonesia's Sumatra after 400 years". Reuters. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "One dies in Mount Sinabung eruption". The Jakarta Post. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)
External links
Media related to Mount Sinabung at Wikimedia Commons- Thousands flee Indonesia volcano. Al Jazeera. August 29, 2010.
