REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEDAN -- Some 500 military personnel have been deployed to prevent local villagers from entering a danger zone of erupting Mount Sinabung which is located in Karo District, North Sumatra.
"Local inhabitants and refugees of Mount Sinabung eruption are not allowed to enter villages located within a radius of seven kilometers," Commander of the Mount Sinabung Eruption Emergency Response Lt. Col. Asep Sukarna said here, Sunday.
The government has declared the area lying within a seven-kilometer radius of the volcano's peak as a danger zone. No one is allowed to enter the danger zone.
The volcano, that has been erupting since five years ago, is spewing large plumes of smoke and volcanic ash into the sky everyday.
A number of villages in Karo District, such as Bekerah, Sukanalu and Mardinding, have been affected by the volcano's hot cloud.
Some 10,606 people or 3,121 families, are currently being displaced by the natural disaster, and being accommodated in 10 refugee camp locations.
The refugee camps are located in Jambur Lau Buah Batu, Kabanjahe Catholic Church, KNPI Kabanjahe Hall, GBKP Kabanjahe Hall, Jambur Sempajaya, Surbakti orange warehouse, Jambur Tongkoh, Jambur Korpri, Jambur Tanjung Mbelang and GPDI Ndokum churh.
The refugees are from 11 villages, namely Gurukinayan, Tiga Pancur, Pintu Besi, Sukanalu, Berastepu, Jaraya, Kutatengah, Sigarang Garang, Mardingding, Kutagugung and Kutarayat.
On June 2, 2015, the authorities raised the alert status for Mount Sinabung to the highest level.