Two die as Indonesian volcanoes erupt
Two volcanoes in separate parts of Indonesia spewed out plumes of hot smoke and showers of stones today, killing two hikers and forcing the evacuation of 5,000 villagers.
Two hikers were killed when they were hit by hot rocks expelled by Mount Bromo in east Java, said vulcanologist Atje Purbawinata.
At least seven other hikers were injured by the blast, which sent a plume of smoke almost 10,000 feet into the air, officials said.
Bromo is popular with foreign tourists, but the nationalities of those killed and injured were not immediately available.
Many buildings in the nearby towns of Malang and Probolinggo were covered by a light coating of ash.
In North Sulawesi, in the far north-east of the country, at least 5,000 villagers were evacuated from the vicinity of Mount Awu after it spewed smoke and ash,.
The evacuees joined about 7,000 others in the nearby town of Tahuna who have been sheltering there since Friday, when the mountain on Sangihe island first began rumbling.
“We are just waiting for the big explosion,” said local official Barelang, who goes by a single name.
Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other nation in the world, and minor eruptions are common.
