Sinabung is among 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has sporadically erupted since August 2010 after being dormant for 400 years. In the past four years the 8,530ft volcano located in Jeraya, North Sumatra, has killed at least two people and displaced 30,000 others. An eruption in February this year killed 16 people. More than 3,200 people are in 16 temporary shelters due to the recent eruptions.
Sinabung released hot clouds six times today, with its alert status at a level advising residents to be ready to flee if conditions worsen.
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to it being on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. But despite volcanoes being very hard to predict, it is difficult to keep farmers away because the mountain slopes are highly fertile.
Lightning caused by volcanic materials containing electric charges that collide into each other is seen as Mount Sinabung erupts
Mount Sinabung spews pyroclastic smoke, seen from Tiga Pancur village in Berastagi, Karo district, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Stunning view of volcanic eruptions of Mount Sinabung at Beganding village in Indonesia, which is on the Ring of Fire
An Indonesian man watches as Mount Sinabung - dormant for 400 years until 2010 - erupts in Tiga Kicat, North Sumatra, Indonesia
In this photo made with a slow shutter speed, Mount Sinabung spews hot lava and volcanic ash as seen from Jeraya, North Sumatra
Mount Sinabung, which had been dormant for over 400 years, has been intermittently erupting since September last year
A resident covers his face while walking after the latest eruption of Mount Sinabung in Karo District, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Mount Sinabung spews hot lava and volcanic ash as it is photographed from Tiga Pancur village in Indonesia
A resident uses an umbrella to avoid the thick volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung with lava blowing a giant black cloud
Kalem (right), cleans her temporary tent as their village is hit by ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Berastagi, Karo district
Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province has been erupting since last week, forcing hundreds of people to flee their home
Mount Sinabung sprews hot gas and ash as seen from Tiga Pancur village in Karo, North Sumatra
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, more than 3,000 residents are still displaced from the eruption in September 2013
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to it being on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines
A man cleans his car as his village is hit by ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Berastagi, Karo district
Residents ride their motorcycles leaving their area as Mount Sinabung sprews hot gas and ashes at Guru Kinayan village in Karo
Residents stand on their fields as their village is hit by ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Berastagi, Karo district
A giant black cloud of volcanic ash is seen following after the latest eruption of Mount Sinabung in Karo district
Kalem cleans her temporary tent as their village is hit by ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Berastagi, Karo district
Despite volcanoes being notoriously hard to predict, it is difficult to keep farmers away because the mountain slopes are highly fertile
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