Mount Lokon in Indonesia erupts

JAKARTA - Mount Lokon in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province erupted at 08:20 local time (0020 GMT).

According to reports by the Center of Volcanology and Geological Danger Mitigation (PVMBG) of Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the eruption was followed by roaring noise and thick and grey ashes emitted to 2,000 meters above the volcano's Tompaluan crater heading southeast.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Center of Data Information and Public Relation at the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), said in a statement his office has recommended that there should be no public activity within 2.5 kilometers below the crater.

He urged people to keep alert and prepare for Mount Lokon's further activities that might happen.

Previously, Mount Lokon erupted on December 27, 2011 and January 6, 2012.