Mount Sinabung continues spewing ash, more villagers evacuate

Indonesia's Mount Sinabung continued to erupt on Sunday (January 5) forcing more residents from nearby villages to flee to safety.

On Sunday, the 2,460 meters high Volcano's hot cloud eruptions traveled close to residential areas.

Police asked residents from two villages, Pintu Besi and Jeraya, located seven kilometers away from the crater, to leave their homes as they were in the hot clouds' trajectory.

Volcanologists say the hot clouds travel further everyday.

A National Disaster Management Agency report said an estimated 20,491 people have been evacuated in shelters so far.

The government's alert status remained at its highest level, after violent eruptions in recent months from the volcano that lay dormant for four centuries.

Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation put the volcano status on its highest status. At this status it is recommended that public and tourists do not climb or come within five kilometers from the crater.