Indonesia Volcano Blast Prompts Evacuations
Mount Sinabung spews volcanic materials into the sky in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 30, 2010. The volcano that had been dormant for more than four centuries erupted for the second day in a row Monday, spewing out towering clouds of ash and forcing the evacuation of more than 21,000 people. (AP Photo/Roone Patikawa)
Some people found their way back to homes near Indonesia's Mount Sinabung Tuesday following eruptions on Sunday and Monday.
The blasts prompted the evacuation of up to 30,000 people as of Monday, according to news reports.
This eruptive cycle is said to be the first in more than 400 years for the 8,000-foot conical mountain, which is located in northern Sumatra northwest of Lake Toba and about 30 miles southwest of Medan.
At least two deaths have been attributed at least in part to the eruptions. The two deaths were caused by respiratory complications and a heart attack according to the National Disaster Management Agency of Indonesia.
Low visibility led to the diverting of some domestic flights. Small planes were being rerouted as smoke and ash rose more than 3 miles during Monday's six-hour eruption.
If the eruptions continue, larger aircraft may also need to be rerouted.
Monday's eruption was the more powerful of the two eruptions and, with the additional evacuations, the number of people displaced under threat by the volcano rose to 30,000, according to news reports.
As for any tie-in to weather and climate, it would seem that the first two eruptions were fairly small and unlikely to have meaningful impact.
The volcano certainly has potential for further eruptions, possibly greater than the first two.
Indonesia's volcanoes are amongst the most notorious in the world, 19th century blasts of Krakatoa and Tambora being two extreme examples of volcanic eruptions having measurable impact upon weather and climate.
Weather during the coming week for the affected area will have scattered daily thunderstorms with the usual tropical downpours.
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