Sinabung volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra island erupts without reports of casualties

Mount Sinabung, a volcano located on Indonesia's Sumatra island, erupted on Monday, August 31, 2026, releasing a column of black ash and smoke over 3,500 meters into the air, according to a report from the Geological Agency of Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The eruption was witnessed in Karo, North Sumatra, and no immediate casualties were reported.

However, authorities advised residents, visitors, and tourists to stay away from nearby villages in Karo district and areas within 6 kilometers of the mountain's summit. Roads, vehicles, and buildings in several affected villages were covered in gray ash, so local authorities distributed masks to protect people. The volcano's alert level was raised to "Watch," the second-highest level for volcanic activity, which expanded the safe zone around the 2,600-meter mountain.

The Geological Agency's chief, Lana Saria, stated that this eruption was considered an initial one, and a larger eruption could occur in the future. About 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes around Sinabung due to volcanic activity in the past few years. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 280 million people, is prone to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.