Indonesia Raises Volcano Alert Level

Indonesia has raised the alert level for the Sinabung volcano to the highest level, warning an eruption is possible within days.

A government spokesman said the volcano's increased activity over the past two days had made it unstable.

He urged residents living within a 7-km (4-mile) radius to the south and southeast of the crater to evacuate their homes.

The 2,600-metre-high (8,530 ft) volcano, which is in the North Sumatra province, had been dormant for 400 years before it began showing signs of life in September 2013.

It erupted dramatically in August 2010, leading to the loss of life for two people and leaving 30,000 residents forced to flee their homes.

An eruption in February 2014 led to the deaths of 16 people.

Mount Sinabung s among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia.

The region is susceptible to seismic upheaval because of its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.