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Volcano in Indonesia erupts again, forcing evacuation of villagers

Sinabung volcano spews thick smoke and volcanic material in Indonesia's Karo district on September 15, 2013. Thousands of villagers fled the area on September 15 after a volcano erupted on Indonesia's Sumatra island, spewing rocks and red-hot ash onto surrounding villages, officials said. (KHARISMA TARIGAN/AFP/Getty Images).

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A volcano in western Indonesia has erupted again, unleashing volcanic ash high into the sky and forcing the evacuation of villagers around its slope.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency says 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) -high Mount Sinabung erupted early Sunday.

It says authorities are working to evacuate residents from four villages located within the danger zone of 3 kilometres (2 miles). So far, nearly 1,300 villagers have been relocated to safer areas.

The volcano, located in North Sumatra province, last erupted Oct. 24. In September, more than 15,000 people were forced to flee when it rumbled to life after being dormant for three years.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

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