Indonesia volcano

This item appears on page 19 of the April 2018 issue.

Mt. Sinabung, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, erupted on Feb. 19, spewing ash more than 3 miles into the air and causing a massive pyroclastic flow. No injuries were reported, but nearby towns were evacuated during the eruption. Worldwide, it was the largest volcanic eruption in the last five years.

Mt. Sinabung erupted in 2010, killing two people, after centuries of dormancy. It has erupted two other times since then, in 2014 and 2016, killing a total of 23 people. The area immediately around the base of the volcano is now off limits due to its continued activity.