Mt Soputan spews ashes

Manado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Mount Soputan in Indonesia`s northern-most province of North Sulawesi sent up ashes 1,500 meters into the sky at 09.15 a.m. on Thursday.

Columns of brownish ashes and white clouds moved in westerly direction, an officer at the volcano`s observation post, Fandi, told ANTARA by phone on Thursday.

"The emission of ashes followed the volcano`s increased activity since early Thursday. A total of 44 tremors were recorded from 01.00 a.m. to 06.00 a.m," he said.

The ashes were expected to fall on a number of villages on the western slope of the 1,783-meter volcano, he said.

No residents have fled their homes despite the volcano`s increased activity.

The volcano last spewed ash and rocks in mid August.(*) END