Thar she blows!!

Asia-Pacific 2010
Thousands flee Indonesia volcano
At least 10,000 people living near the Sinabung vulcano have been evacuated [AFP]

Indonesia has issued a red alert after the Sinabung volcano on the western island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years.

The volcano spewed smoke and ash 1,500 metres into the air, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from the Karo district in North Sumatra on Sunday.

"Initially we thought the ash and smoke were triggered by rain but now we know the driving pressure was from magma," Surono, the head of the nation's volcano disaster alert centre, told the AFP news agency.

"It's clearly dangerous so we've raised the warning to the highest level, or red level. From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 metres into the sky," he added.

Blanket of smoke

A thick blanket of acrid black smoke is shrouding the area, disaster officials said, although no casualties have yet been reported.

The 2,460-metre Sinabung, in northern Sumatra, has not erupted since the year 1600but had shown "some volcanic activity" since Friday, Surono, who goes by only one name, said.

"Our team is co-ordinating with district and provincial officials to monitor the situation."

At least 10,000 people living nearby the volcano have been evacuated, the Antara news agency reported.

"Many had left their homes even before they were evacuated. They said the volcano was spewing thick black smoke, small stones and sulphur," Priyadi Kardono, spokesman of the Disaster Management Agency, said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where the meeting of continental platescauses high volcanic and seismic activity.

It has more active volcanoes than any other country.

Earlier this month, four people went missing after the 1,784-metre Mount Karangetang, on the remote island of Siau in North Sulawesi province, erupted.

Mount Baru Jari on Lombok island, near the resort island of Bali, erupted in May, spewing ash and lava at least 1,500 metres into the sky, damaging crops but not threatening villagers.