INDONESIA: Thousands stay in shelter for Eid celebration after Mount Sinabung volcano continue to spew ash

Record ID: 791685

  • Title: INDONESIA: Thousands stay in shelter for Eid celebration after Mount Sinabung volcano continue to spew ash
  • Date: 11th September 2010
  • Summary: REFUGEES AT TEMPORARY SHELTER
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2KC4FH0EC79T63MA62PFJ3RE
  • Story Text: Thousands of villagers living near rumbling volcano, Mount Sinabung, celebrate Eid al-Fitr at a temporary shelter as government officials keep the mount's status on alert.
    Villagers living near volcano Mount Sinabung in Indonesia's Sumatra, celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Friday (September 10) in their temporary shelters.
    About 30,000 villagers fled their homes, within six kilometers from the peak, when the volcano erupted on August 29. Many have found refuge in around 20 temporary shelters.
    Muslims make up 30 percent of the population that lived near Mount Sinabung.
    Villagers had to celebrate the end of Ramadan in the shelter as government officials have asked everyone to stay in the shelters until the alert status on the volcano has been lowered.
    The alert status for the 2460 meter volcano was raised to the highest level as its activity increased after the first eruption. On Tuesday (September 7), it had its its biggest eruption since it became active last week, and experts warned of more blasts to come.
    The volcano is located 110 kilometers from North Sumatra capital of Medan.
    Eid al-Fitr falls on September 10 and 11 and millions of Indonesians have returned to their hometowns to celebrate the end of the Muslim fasting month. Eid al-Fitr for many Indonesians Muslims is a time of forgiveness and "returning home to family".
    "I am very sad to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in the shelter, family members cannot gather. Our children do not have new clothes to celebrate as usual. I hope that this disaster end quickly and we can get back to our village again," Nurlina boru Ginting, one of refugee in Kabanjahe told Reuters Television.
    Indonesia has the highest number of active volcanoes of any country, sitting on a belt of intense seismic activity known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire".
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