Mount Sinabung volcano erupts in Indonesia, killing 7

By Tiffany Ap, Kathy Quiano and Yuli Yang, CNN
Updated 9:11 PM EDT, Sun May 22, 2016
A scorched home is seen on Sunday, May 22, 2016 after it was hit by the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung. The volcano unleashed hot clouds of ash Saturday, May 21, killing at least seven people in the western province of North Sumatra.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Binsar Bakkara/AP
A scorched home is seen on Sunday, May 22, 2016 after it was hit by the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung. The volcano unleashed hot clouds of ash Saturday, May 21, killing at least seven people in the western province of North Sumatra.
A dog covered in volcanic ash crouches down Sunday, May 22.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Binsar Bakkara/AP
A dog covered in volcanic ash crouches down Sunday, May 22.
Indonesian soldiers conduct search and rescue operations Sunday, May 22 in a North Sumatra village after the volcano eruption.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: ARDIANSYAH PUTRA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Indonesian soldiers conduct search and rescue operations Sunday, May 22 in a North Sumatra village after the volcano eruption.
Coffins containing the bodies of the volcano eruption victims are lowered into a grave during a funeral Sunday, May 22.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Binsar Bakkara/AP
Coffins containing the bodies of the volcano eruption victims are lowered into a grave during a funeral Sunday, May 22.
Indonesian soldiers carry people's belongings during an evacuation Sunday, May 22.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Binsar Bakkara/AP
Indonesian soldiers carry people's belongings during an evacuation Sunday, May 22.
The area remains on the highest alert, and more eruptions are likely. The volcano has long been active, spewing smoke intermittently, as seen in June 2015.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
The area remains on the highest alert, and more eruptions are likely. The volcano has long been active, spewing smoke intermittently, as seen in June 2015.
A motorcyclist places a mask on his face in an area of North Sumatra covered by ash after an eruption in June 2015.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
A motorcyclist places a mask on his face in an area of North Sumatra covered by ash after an eruption in June 2015.
Farmers work in the fields as smoke rises from Mount Sinabung in June 2015. A 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) area around the mountain was declared a danger zone in 2014 and residents told to evacuate, but people still returned to tend to their homes and land. <br />
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Farmers work in the fields as smoke rises from Mount Sinabung in June 2015. A 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) area around the mountain was declared a danger zone in 2014 and residents told to evacuate, but people still returned to tend to their homes and land.
Smoke from Mount Sinabung billows behind a woman in June 2015.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Smoke from Mount Sinabung billows behind a woman in June 2015.
More than 75% of Indonesians live within 39 kilometers (62 miles) of volcanoes that have had some activity during the last century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
More than 75% of Indonesians live within 39 kilometers (62 miles) of volcanoes that have had some activity during the last century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Lava runs down Mount Sinabung following the June 2015 eruption.
Photos: Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia
PHOTO: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Lava runs down Mount Sinabung following the June 2015 eruption.

Story highlights

Mount Sinabung in the western province of North Sumatra erupted on Saturday

Potential for more eruptions remains high

Jakarta, Indonesia CNN —  

At least seven people have died and two more are critically injured after Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung erupted on Saturday, the country’s National Disaster Management Agency reported.

Fast Facts: Volcanoes

The seven victims were in Gembar village in the western province of North Sumatra when the eruption occurred at 4:48 p.m. local time (9:48 a.m. GMT). Search teams comprised of police, military, Indonesian Red Cross and volunteers continue to search for other victims.

Thousands evacuated in June 2015

This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
PHOTO: Alaska Volcano Observatory
This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
PHOTO: Ivan Damanik/AFP/Getty Images
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
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PHOTO: EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP/Getty Images
The Turrialba volcano spews smoke and ash in May 2016 in Cartago, Costa Rica. Experts say it is the strongest eruption from the volcano in the past six years.
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PHOTO: Colt Snapp/Alaska Volcano Observatory
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PHOTO: JUAN CEVALLOS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
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PHOTO: Adwit B Pramono/ANTARA FOTO/Reuters/Landov
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PHOTO: Esteban Felix/AP
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PHOTO: GIOVANNI ISOLINO/AFP/Getty Images
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PHOTO: Getty Images
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Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1246978">Mount Sinabung</a> in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
Photos: Recently active volcanoes
PHOTO: Ahmad Zikri Mohamad Zuki/CNN iReport
Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from Mount Sinabung in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
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PHOTO: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
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PHOTO: Diego Paredes Photo/AP
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PHOTO: Kent Gilbert/Xinhua/Landov
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PHOTO: ARIEL MARINKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images
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PHOTO: From USGS
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PHOTO: Chris McGrath/Getty Images
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Gembar village, along with three other villages, is inside a four-kilometer (2.5 mile) danger zone declared in October 2014. Nearly 5,000 residents were evacuated at the time but Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said some locals still enter the zone, staying intermittently to tend to their homes, property and farms.

It is unclear how many people were in the inclusion zone area.

Mount Sinabung is still on the highest alert level and potential for more eruptions remain high.

The head of the National Disaster Management Agency has ordered the immediate evacuation of people who insist on staying within the zone.

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