Indonesia raises alert level at volcano, orders evacuation

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Indonesia warned Tuesday that one of its most deadly volcanos was poised to erupt and ordered nearly 30,000 villagers on the mountain's slopes to evacuate. Mount Kelud, which has been rumbling for weeks, was placed on the highest alert level, meaning scientists believe a major eruption is imminent, said a posting on the government-run volcanology center Web site. The status requires local authorities to evacuate people living on the slopes. Surono, a top scientist at the center, said that all people living within 10 kilometers of the peak must evacuate. Surono, who goes by a single name, said authorities late Tuesday had begun transporting some people out of the danger zone.