Jakarta: Indonesia issued a red alert on Sunday after the Sinabung volcano on the island of Sumatra erupted, spewing smoke and ash 1,500 metres into the air and sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes.
Two people died, one from breathing problems and the other from a heart attack, and two suffered injuries in road accidents as trucks, ambulances and buses were mobilised in the rescue operation.
"This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung has erupted and we have little knowledge in terms on its eruptive patterns," said Surono, head of Indonesia's vulcanology centre.
"It's clearly dangerous so we've raised the warning to the highest level, or red level," he added. "From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 metres into the sky."
Authorities took at least 12,000 people from high risk areas on the slopes of the 2,460-metre volcano to temporary shelters. Local TV showed showed women and children wearing face masks in cramped tents.
The area around the volcano is largely agricultural.
"Since this is the first eruption we've had in Sinabung, we're anticipating residents to remain at the shelters for at least a week while waiting for further status alert," said Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman at the national disaster management agency.
Residents panicked when the volcano started erupting overnight and some of them who live in safer areas chose to take refugee at shelters, Kardono added.
Disaster Management Agency spokesman Kardono said that "thousands of residents" in four affected villages at the foot of the volcano had been evacuated.
"Many had left their homes even before they were evacuated. They said the volcano was spewing thick black smoke, small stones and sulphur. They were so scared they decided to leave their homes and go to the city," Kardono said, adding that a rescue team has been sent to survey the area.
"The area is blanketed with thick smoke and there's a strong smell of sulphur. We foresee respiratory problems from the inhaling dust. Facemasks have been distributed," he added.
The Antara news agency said that at least 12,000 people living nearby had been evacuated.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where the meeting of continental plates causes 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 (5,853-foot) 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.
