Indonesia Volcanoe
Oct 17, 2004

Indonesian Volcano Awakens

Mount Soputan in the North Sulawesi province sprang into life on Monday, throwing up smoke to a height of up to 400 metres said Yudi Juhara from the nearby volcano observation centre in Tomohon. He said that the top of the crater had been enveloped by clouds and only upper parts of the smoke column could be seen. Heat clouds have temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius and burn all that lies in their path. Mr Juhara said that the status of the 1,830 metre-high volcano had been raised to above normal on Monday, but added that tremors that usually accompany an eruption had become less frequent, indicating decreased activities.