Sinabung volcano. Sumatra

Indonesia: aftermath of the eruption of Mount Merapi (March 2020).

Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupted twice on Friday, firing ash plumes up to 6 kilometers (4 mi) into the sky and causing two airports to close.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the volcano's warning status, raised from its lowest level last month, has not changed and the 3-kilometer (unaccounted for) area around the crater remains in effect.

He said the first eruption occurred at 8:20 am and lasted two minutes. In the evening, Merapi erupted again, spewing volcanic ash up to 2.4 km (1.5 miles), the local volcanology agency reported.

Materials unleashed by the first eruption were blown north, leading to the temporary closure of Ahmad Yani International Airport in the central capital of Java, Semarang and Ade Sumarno Airport in Solo, officials said.

The mountain is located about 30 kilometers (18 mi) from the city of Yogyakarta on densely populated island Java.

About a quarter of a million people live within a 10 kilometer (6 mi) radius of the volcano.

The last major eruption of Merapi in 2010 killed 347 people.

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 250 million people, sits on the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. State seismologists control over 120 active volcanoes.

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Traveling independently in Indonesia, I came to the small town of Berastagi from the lake, to look at the volcanoes, which I had never seen alive before in my life, did not come close and, moreover, did not climb to the top.
I went to one of them very interesting and accessible on the second day (read this story, as well as information about the volcano), but I wanted to climb the Sinabung Sinabung volcano too. This was in early February 2013. But only now, in October 2016, I am writing about it.

Sinabung volcano - information

Sinabung volcano with a height of 2460 m, is located in the North of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, 25 km from the city of Berastagi and 90 km from big city Medan, where most of the tourists arrive to also get to the volcano, lake, and others interesting places in Sumatra.

For 400 years, the volcano was dormant, and in August 2010, the first, after hibernation, eruption occurred. Woke up. The next time Mount Sinabung erupted in November 2013 and then rapidly increased its activity, erupting twice in early 2014 and then more and more often in 2015, especially strong emissions and repeated eruptions were observed in 2016, when a lava dome collapsed and died there again. people. Now, after all the eruptions, there is almost no forest on it ...

But back to my trip in February 5, 2013 ... Then I did not know anything about him, I was possessed by curiosity, a desire to see the unusual and get more impressions.

It was necessary to go to Sinabung only with a guide, and it cost decent money 300-350 thousand Indonesian rupees, which is expensive for an unemployed traveling independently, spending her hard-earned savings every day (then it was $ 35 at the exchange rate). There was no one to join, there were no people willing to climb this volcano, so I, looking with apprehension at the list of male tourists hanging in the Tourist Information Center in the city of Berastagi, who lost their way back and died, or were found after a couple of years, decided to leave this venture ...
However, after visiting the volcano, curiosity arose in me and the next day I nevertheless decided to look at the Sinabung Sinabung volcano.
Since absolutely everyone from whom I asked told me the same thing, namely, categorically not to go alone without a guide, I decided to at least look at him, stand beside him, see what it is and why not go. As a person endowed with a gorgeous imagination, I thought that I would just come up, walk around, see how it looked, and come back - just imagined it so.

The hostess of the guest house gave me a very simple map - a diagram, explained how to get there, but warned me several times not to climb up and that the last bus (like a tuk-tuk) back to the city leaves at 4 pm I bought 2 plastic glasses on the way with water, in a small backpack there was a pack of cookies started and with all this went to the stop. It started on February 5, 2013 at about 9 am and after an hour of shaking in an old bemo (something similar to a minibus), I was in the right place. Travel from Berastagi to Kavar Lake Kawar or Danau Kawar cost 7000 rupees... In the second half of the way, it was already possible to see this very mountain from the window. Only the top is hidden behind the clouds.
On the final stop there was some kind of building where two men were sitting, I clarified the direction, they once again warned me not to go up the mountain and saying that I would just walk around, I left, glad that they did not take me from entrance fee of 4000 rupees(then it's only 13 rubles).

Lake Kavar

Located almost at the foot of the Sinabung volcano, Lake Kavar, like a mysterious mirror, lurks in the silence of these places. It was so that sunny morning.
Standing by the lake tourist tents on a platform under a canopy, from which a few people just got out. Why didn't I go up to them? Firstly, I somehow didn’t dare, logically reasoning that if I go to the volcano, then I have to go right now, otherwise everything will be covered with clouds and you will not see anything, and the company is apparently big and they are just waking up, which means it will take a bunch time. Secondly, they have enough people without me, or they are such brave guys, they probably have already visited the top, and in general, they told me not to climb the mountain and I was only going to reach the bottom and that's it.
Passed by, admired the view beautiful lake, a little more along a good road, and then along the vegetable gardens, from where a view of the mountain and its top, barely visible in the clouds, opened up.

I saw the sign "Sinabung-5km" and decided to just come closer. It was already clear that it would be impossible to go around the volcano around. The mountain was completely covered with forest, and its top was hidden in the clouds, so that only the lower half was visible. Honestly, I wanted to get up, but I was terribly afraid and nervous about it, as before an exam, because Apparently my subconscious knew, if something - I climb up - that hurry something!
Two peasants who were digging in a field of cabbage showed me the way to continue and I went to the forest.

How I climbed Mount Sinabung

I must say that no distances were written on the diagram, therefore, having quickly walked to this very sign, I, as a big-minded person, did not attach importance to the fact that I had already passed a short segment and began to climb, fearing and hoping that I was still overcoming the first part ( I did not notice that it was she on the diagram), and then there will be a road that is drawn on the diagram, and maybe people. So I imagined. I went into the forest and began to climb, telling myself that I allow just a little bit and immediately back.

- “I will go 100 meters, I will even look at the jungle, I have never been in the jungle, I will feel it and come back immediately” - I thought, entering the forest. Then there were another 100 meters and another 50 and then another 30 and 20 ... To say that I was scared is to say nothing - I was terribly afraid! But it was also very interesting, although I was wary of meeting any animals, snakes or any other dangers that could instantly draw and even draw my imagination. Therefore, at first I walked easily and quickly, like a torpedo, like a battering ram and thought - well, now I’ll quickly go a little and back. So, I'll run a little up the mountain and come back. 🙂
The trail was at first about 1 m wide, then narrowed to half a meter. The soil is very wet and the roots of the trees, which served as natural support steps, were slippery. Not surprisingly, early February, or rather February 5, 2013, is a wet season, it rains every day. Moreover, in the mountains, there are more clouds.

Sometimes I had to put my foot high enough and grab onto branches or the roots of trees located above, and sometimes, on the contrary, crawl under the fallen large trees, but this is not a problem for me - and stretching allows my leg to lift, and with my small stature it is not difficult to crawl under the tree. Sometimes the path bifurcated, as it turned out, skirting the huge thickets of pandanus. Sometimes I turned and took pictures so as not to lose my way back. (It is a pity that they are rare and that they turned out to be of poor quality).
The list of lost people that I saw in the city and that I also remembered the well-known character - "Father Fyodor" from the movie "Twelve Chairs" was constantly spinning in my head. Only the helicopter would not come after me, my phone was the most ancient small (not a smartphone) and there were no local SIM cards at all - I don't usually buy this, and the money on the phone to make a call from roaming is also not enough ... the third was coming month of my second independent travel in Asia and just the second week of traveling in Indonesia.

It soon became clear that there was no need to wait any longer, and that I was really walking along the path to the top, the very one that Don’t climb had warned me about! DO NOT climb!

I sat down to rest, on the first level place - this is after about 1.3 km from the beginning. Despite the palpitations and slight dizziness, emotions did not allow me to feel fatigue to the fullest. At the same time, there was already some satisfaction from what was done, passed. This feeling allowed only to relax a little. Having emptied a plastic glass of water, and hanging it on a stick from a tree as a guide, I decided that I would go another half hour and climbed further up.
I must say that further it was steeper, more difficult and much more difficult. And my heart was pounding more and more. On the way came across a lot of lost men's shoes - sneakers, sneakers, even slippers - all one by one. I was in a hurry again because I had to return before the rain.
The imagination drew such a picture - if a heavy downpour begins, this path may turn into a mountain forest river (like at a waterfall in Thailand) and I will walk knee-deep or even waist-deep, if I can, in cold water, not knowing where to tread, along and so difficult path, full of mud, snags, roots and stones. My sneakers were wet and far from white (I had no other). And on the path already covered, there were two of the most difficult places to descend, especially in the rain.

But the desire to overcome, victories, excitement or youthful maximalism, still preserved, despite age, to prove something to someone invisible or to myself, or a real discovery of myself ... I don't know, this led me further and further. I walked through the jungle all alone. I climbed up a volcano, along a forest path in the wilds of the island of Sumatra in the faraway country of Indonesia. This audacity was impressive, but at the same time bordering on stupidity, danger, like the edge of a knife. I said to myself: "Well, another 10 minutes, well, another hundred meters, well, before this turn, and then until that tree." I even remembered a fragment of one film about pilots that I watched 20 years ago, there was such a concept - a point of no return, i.e. the point from which, if necessary, the plane can return back to the airport from where it took off. Where is my point of no return? And the further upward, the more terrible and dangerous it became, not to mention the state of health - I suddenly remembered that I was not 20, and not 30, and not even 40 - I should have taken myself more seriously. I wish I could meet tourists, then it would be easier, like yesterday, when I went to, but alas. No one but me was here. I understood why people do not come here in batches, and why the guides take such a sum.

Suddenly, my mental reasoning was interrupted by a very strange sound, a crunch, which was heard very close, about 8 meters from me, from the depths of the jungle. I still don't know what it was or who. Most likely, it was some kind of animal, and I rushed on, driven by a new wave of fear.

And the path, meanwhile, twisted and became narrower and narrower, sometimes branches left it in one direction or the other, and then vigilance, attention and control increased by me, I became more aware of the seriousness of what was happening.

Finally, a very small area of ​​a flat place, open on one side, appeared, where you can calmly stand and even sit down to catch your breath and admire the stunning view of Lake Kavar, the fields and everything that was below.

All this time I walked through the jungle and there was never an open space to understand where you are. Wow, how high I got! The lake looked so small. Clouds and clouds driven by the wind floated both lower and higher than me, it seemed they could be touched with my hands. It looked very beautiful and extraordinary, especially in such conditions. I stood tired, on this tiny patch of flat surface and experienced absolutely amazing feelings alone with myself and huge world, opened to me as if in a jungle window wide open.

Usually at such moments I have an awesome feeling of flight and happiness, which simply bursts, relieves stress and gives additional strength. But my heart was still pounding with all its might, my head was already aching, and a lot of energy had already been spent, so I just calmly enjoyed the view and rested, realizing that it was not enough to climb up, I must also be able to return safe and sound.
I took photos, unfortunately, not best quality due to the lack of the sun and constantly passing clouds. I rested a little. There was a pleasant sensation from what I had done, but the thought of continuing on my way still bothered me. It was a sly thought.
- “And what if you walk another twenty or thirty meters, up, closer to the top,” - was spinning in my head. I wanted to see what would happen next. Here the vegetation is already slightly different, and the trail is even steeper than in the previous sections. I understood how much I had gone through and this, on the one hand, suggested that something had to change and, perhaps, I would at least go out into the space from where I could see the top. But at the same time, I felt and was afraid that it was dangerous and was not sure that I would get away with it, or rather, off my feet, that this mountain would accept me and God, or I don't know someone else, would allow me and want to save me in if something happens.
Having persuaded myself for the next "just a little bit", I again plunged into the thickets. However, after 10 meters, I realized in time and made the absolutely firm and most correct decision in my entire life - to turn back! I was careful, because the slope, with each step, became much steeper, and the path that ran upward turned very difficult, now in one direction, then in the other direction, skirting overgrown plants, and in general it was narrow and sometimes barely perceptible with a glance, at least for me - a beginner, afraid of everything. Even after 5-7 meters, it is completely impossible to see where this path will then go, and what is there. Remembering the list of lost guys that was spinning in my head, I was not sure that I would easily find my way back. In addition, my heart was leaping wildly in my chest, my head was dizzy and ache, fatigue and fear of not being in time before the rain were sufficient reasons to end there. Yes, and in my arsenal were pictures and the conquest of a decent distance! (more than 4.2 km, according to the sign below)
Convincing myself that this is mine, too, a very great achievement - and this is really so, and in order not to create an unbearable task for my guardian angel, I rested a little more on this patch, looked at the lake again, thanked the environment, then finished the second and last plastic 200 gram glass of water, and with a sense of accomplished "duty", her own approval and even satisfaction, she quickly began to descend, fearing to lose the path or not see the desired turn.
… Naturally, what you are afraid is what happens. So I came to a place where a narrow path diverged into two, bending around a huge growing tropical plant, forming another giant pandanus bush. That second part also had some kind of incomprehensible offshoot.
- "A-ah, what to do, which one to go along !?", - I mentally hysterical and went on the right, of course doubting and afraid. Thank God that after walking about five meters, thinking, I stumbled in a hurry over some snag, immediately decided: "Aha, this is a sign," - turned back, and then went down again, but this time along the right side of the path. It seemed my guardian angel or the Lord God or mine ... I do not know the divine something, everyone at once supported my correct and firm decision to refuse to go to the top and now they sighed with relief.
So I "scratched" down at full speed ... and the further, the safer and more confident I felt. The load wave flew off me, I no longer worried so much. I just thought that one difficult obstacle to the descent was already behind, which made it easier.
About 2/3 of the way back, and this is about 2.6 km, human voices and laughter began to be heard, then I felt completely calm and I stopped being afraid, but I continued to move with the same fast speed... The voices were getting closer and louder and after another 15 minutes I saw below, a company of guys and girls. They were sitting on the fallen trees, in the very, relatively flat place where I rested for the first time.

They did not expect

You can imagine the reaction and the faces of people who just sat down to take a break while climbing the volcano, who unexpectedly saw a miniature fragile girl in a white jacket - me, descending from above and dissecting the exotic jungles of Sumatra with my confident fast gait.

- “Where you from? Where did you come from ?! Are you a lone ?! You are alone? What are you doing here? What are you doing here?!" Are you creazy? ”These and other questions were addressed to me with undisguised surprise and concern from the lips of an active Indonesian girl named Nettie, who, fortunately, spoke English.

-"Yes. I am alone. I'm going from above. I'm from Russia." - I answered, barely catching my breath.

I told them my whole story. Showed a diagram that I misread. How I walked, and how I thought that I would reach the road (which I missed before reaching the forest). They listened attentively, it seemed a little stunned by my madness. And then she showed on the camera the pictures of the lake I had taken.

- “So you almost made it! There was just a little bit left! " - exclaimed Nettie. She translated everything to her Indonesian friends, and the older one looked at my diagram and said that it was better not to use it.

Then she asked where I live.

“In Berastagi,” I said, answering questions as usual. My heart was still pounding hard, but my breathing gradually calmed down. They treated me to water from a special rubber container, which they carry behind my back in a backpack. We still talked a little and here ...

“We're going to the top, come with us,” Nettie suggested, and everyone also sympathetically agreed. - "We have water, some snacks for a snack, we will share with you, and then, when we go down, we will take you back to the city on a motorcycle" ... Then I remembered that the last bus to the city leaves at 16 o'clock.

To be honest, I was shocked by such an unexpected proposal and even thought a little. Only a little more than a kilometer remained until the end of the descent! I was pretty tired, despite this halt, if you can call it that. The path already covered again appeared before my eyes. I hesitated, but at the same time, I said in my mind: “Such a miracle can happen only once in my life and only with me. This is a chance you shouldn't give up. "

And I went again!

Oh God, how I love you, for all the surprises and magic! It turned out to be the same people who were in the tents by the lake, which I passed in the morning. There were eight of them, mostly young guys and girls - students. They signed up on the Internet, specially gathered and came to this place from different cities in Indonesia to go to the top together. Among them was a girl from the Czech Republic and a local guide, the older one, who knew how to go to the volcano.
Naturally, I did not expect such a development of events, moreover, I was very tired, my head was still spinning, despite the rest and the additional amount of water I had drunk. But I made a choice - to reach the top!
The second time along the same path, but with other forces, or rather, almost without them - this is no longer so entertaining and cool. Yes, and this path seemed to me so insanely long, long and tiring that when the second time I found myself in that very place with a beautiful view of the lake, it seemed to me an eternity passed. It really was far away. And again, rest at an already familiar place, how could I have thought that I would be back the same day. But I was already so tired that even this beautiful view of the lake did not have that much needed and useful emotional effect on me now.

And again on the road, here it is - the place from where I decided to turn back a few hours ago. I was worried, as if I was following the imprint of a piece of my life, my past. Because this section was really difficult, and the path was almost invisible, she was hiding among the overgrown bushes and trees, running steeper and steeper into the high unknown. I tried to be a good fellow, but it was given with great effort.

A little bit of emotion nevertheless increased when we entered the open, bald part of the path. I sighed with some relief, but this was only the beginning of a new section with wet red earth interspersed with potholes and stones. Of course, I no longer had speed and had to stop for rest more and more often. The strength is not at all the same, although I tried as best I could. Thank you, one of the guys was always next to me because the chain stretched 50 meters. Of course, they are young and with fresh strength, and I have already cleaned them up. Well, okay, drank some water and went on.

But then it was very hard. This is the very last and steepest section. The slope of the surface was 60-70 degrees or more. We climbed up smooth, large and medium stones, 50-80 cm in size, protruding to the surface, which, interspersed with the soil, were quite slippery and wet. That was something! I still remember how my heart jumped out of my chest, and my head was insanely dizzy and aching. I just prayed to God that my heart would not stop, and everything else helped me to cope, apparently, my innate endurance, aspiration and desire, as well as, passed a couple of weeks ago in Malaysia, a ten-day course of vipassana - meditation. I climbed and did not turn around so as not to lose focus, not to distract and not to relax my mind. I thought that probably beautiful views behind my back, but immediately drove the thought away. For the first time in my life, I had no time for this, I chose the main thing - focusing on myself and my safety task, on which both my life and the good mood of my new acquaintances depended, who offered to go to the top and have this unforgettable experience.

In the meantime, there were the happy exclamations of the girls who reached the very top. Everything was in the clouds, in this dense fog it was not even visible that the summit was so close. But I still had to climb further. At some point, I even suggested to the guy that I was walking alongside, to go alone, and I would come later, I didn’t want to burden him much and slow down, because I needed to stop every ten meters and I felt a little awkward. But he said that there were only a few meters left and we came. Let's go on. Indeed, these were the last five of the steepest and most difficult meters that I, like an exhausted Olympic champion, crawled under the encouraging cries of guys and girls who were already standing on a flat, horizontal surface in the fog of a cloud. I must say it helped a lot, and I crawled to the top of the Sinabung volcano, to the cheers and applause.

At the top of the Sinabung volcano

The top of the volcano was a horizontal surface with a diameter of ten meters, with a stone in the center, and paths departed on opposite sides. We must not forget which side we came from. It's cold and eerie here, just knocking down the wind.

I was so tired that at first I didn't even have the strength to smile.

Well, then she moved away and even climbed onto a stone, from which I was almost blown away by the wind.

They say that from here, from the summit of Mount Sinabung, to good weather can be seen, but unfortunately we did not see anything, because we were right in the center of a dense cloud, so even the sun seemed to be just a point of light. Therefore, the locals advise to climb in the morning.

Only for a few seconds, the clouds parted and showed us the crater, but while everyone caught up, ran up and gave the cameras, everything disappeared again.

So, thanks to these wonderful people, I stood at the top and shared everyone's happiness. Everything that day was for the first time in my life.

Well, it's time to go back. I already felt much better, one might even say well - I moved away)) and was already ready to leave this coldly windy peak.

Descent from the mountain

Descending seems easier, but it is not always the case. This can be more dangerous than climbing. And again a new experience. Due to the high steepness of the slope, we descended with our backs to the surface and facing the clouds, behind which were beautiful views. Well, it's a very unusual activity to crawl with your back and booty down the rocks. Probably looks funny, like an attraction. I have no photos of this entertaining show. Then the slope became slightly more gentle. This is how it went further down.

It was already much easier for me and we, in principle, relatively quickly covered this distance, and most importantly, without heavy rain, only sometimes it drizzled weak.

Probably I have already described the difficulties of the ascent enough, it was possible to descend, albeit faster, but I already felt pain in all muscles, and my knees reminded of themselves after my unusual double route. And here again you can see the wonderful Lake Kavar, for the fourth time for me that day.

The guys had fun and were happy. I was also very happy, but I didn't have enough strength to show emotions.

There remained a little more than four kilometers of descent, along the path along the wet roots of the trees all the time down. It will now be possible to sit down after 2.5 kilometers. By that time, I was really very tired, my head was spinning and these last hundreds of meters, after a halt, I just stupidly, like a robot on stilts, moved my legs, trying not to fall off. It was beginning to get dark and I was in a hurry. Thank you very much to the guys who walked alongside, although I nevertheless behaved well, and not even the last one left the forest. With wet feet, terribly dirty sneakers, and no normal food, I finished my ascent to Mount Sinabung. We left the forest at about seven o'clock in the evening. We sat down right by the gardens to rest and wait for two more. I was thirsty. The guy handed me a plastic bottle and I started drinking, and then it came.

- “Where did you get a bottle of water, like everyone has run out of such water a long time ago?” - “From jungle From the jungle,” he replied.

-"Fine!" - I thought, - "This is me drinking water from the jungle" - I remembered that on the way up I saw some kind of small stream. Well, it's late, I drank a lot, and the water is delicious and I finished it all to the end. Let the energy of nature replenish my strength. The girls got out earlier and went to the tents. Well, it was almost dark and we also went to the tents that stood right by the lake. Then I realized that I definitely "planted" my knees in the field of such a campaign. Still, in total, I think so, I walked 15.5 kilometers along this mountain, and it could be less, if I came up to these guys in the morning.

As soon as we got there, it started to rain, I started thinking about how I could go to the city, but Nettie said:

- "Don't worry, now we will wait for someone and then you will go with the guys, they also need to be in Berastagi." We talked while sitting at the tents, and about half an hour later two guys arrived on motorcycles. Nettie said you'd go now, gave me a brand new raincoat in the package - a film.

I said goodbye to the company of these wonderful guys, went out from under the shed and got on a wet motorcycle. We drove into the city in the dark and in the pouring rain, which intensified along the road and whipped, as if from a bucket with a solid wall into all the holes, and the raincoat was lifted from the wind, broke a little and no longer saved. Fortunately, an hour later, when we drove into Berastagi, the rain stopped, I thanked the guys and went to my guesthouse.

It was about half past nine in the evening when I, wildly tired, wet, but with the feeling of a winner or a discoverer, returned to my guest house - a small private hotel. Everyone who was downstairs, including the hostess, immediately understood everything. I asked them to cook me some food and the keys to the shower. And after dinner and chatter, I also had to wash everything, because my sneakers were black instead of white, and the next day I was going to leave for another place. So the day ended with a big wash. Where did my strength come from, I do not know.

I am incredibly grateful to fate, these guys, the volcano and the jungle for everything I experienced that day. This is my own experience, the experience of traveling and knowing myself. The route map hangs in a frame on the wall in my house, as a memory. And this ascent is mentioned in a newspaper article, for 2013 see the tab

Continuing my independent journey through Indonesia, I went on a small bemo to Medan, in order to leave from there to. (click on the title and read the next article)

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The Pacific volcanic ring of fire of the Earth is located along the entire perimeter of the Pacific Ocean and captures all the islands of Indonesia. The island of Sumatra, the westernmost one, is no exception. large island countries. There are 130 (!!!) active volcanoes on its territory. One of them (and one of the most active on the island) is the Sinabung volcano. It is located in the northern part of the island, 40 kilometers north of Lake Toba.

Mount Sinabung on the map

• Geographic coordinates (3.168627, 98.391425)
• Distance from the capital of Indonesia Jakarta about 1400 km in a straight line
• The nearest airport is Kualanamu International Airport) is located 75 kilometers northeast in the suburb of Medan

Sinabung Volcano is an active, very active and extremely dangerous stratovolcano. Its vent is located at an altitude of 2460 meters above sea level. There are 12 villages scattered around the volcano. The locals are mainly engaged in agriculture, as the soils are extremely fertile due to the presence of volcanic minerals and a very warm climate. Here you can harvest several crops a year. But lately, life on the slopes of a volcano has become like survival in a powder keg.

Eruptions of Mount Sinabung

Until recently, it was believed that the volcano was asleep, since its last eruption was recorded in 1600. But after a little over 400 years, he woke up, so much so that everyone shuddered.

At the end of August 2010, the volcano spewed ash and smoke to a height of one and a half kilometers, forcing about 12,000 residents of nearby villages within a radius of several kilometers to leave their homes. For several days, the emissions of volcanic gases continued. Already on September 3, the column of ash reached a height of 3 kilometers above the vent. And on September 7, a column of smoke escaped already to a height of 5 kilometers. Such activity was accompanied by earthquakes, which were recorded at a distance of up to 25 kilometers from the epicenter. Indonesia's chief volcanologist then said: "It was the largest eruption, and the sound was heard from 8 kilometers away." The rains mingled with volcanic ash to form a heavy, muddy, centimeter-thick coating on buildings and trees. Victims were avoided this time.
But that was only the beginning.

In mid-September 2013, Sinabung volcano once again magically reminded of itself with a column of ash and powerful aftershocks. Again, columns of smoke, gases and ash rushed up several kilometers.
This time the volcano did not calm down and continued its ash and fire show. In November and December 2013, eruptions occurred again with smoke, dust and the evacuation of local residents. And again there were no casualties. By December 28, 2013, a lava dome had formed at the summit.

On January 4, 2014, the volcano erupted again. More than a hundred aftershocks were recorded between 4 and 5 January. The height of the ash pillar turned out to be about 4 kilometers. Unfortunately, the victims were crops and some animals poisoned by pyroclastic flows.

A small digression. What would you understand, the worst thing in a volcanic eruption is not ash, from which you can run away by wearing a respirator, not lava, which spreads at a low speed. The most dangerous and deadly eruption is pyroclastic flows. This deadly mixture of volcanic gases of very high temperatures (up to 800 ° C), mixed with stones and ash, escapes from the volcano and rushes at a speed of up to 700 km / h along the slopes, sweeping away everything in its path. Scientists believe that it was pyroclastic flows that destroyed the population of the city of Pompeii during the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

In January and February 2014, Sinabung raged again. About 20,000 people fled their homes. A column of ash was thrown to a height of 4 kilometers, and lava flowed out 5 kilometers along the southern slope. In early February, 14 people died. One of them is a journalist, a teacher and four students. They decided to take a closer look at the eruption.

Never do that. If you find yourself near a volcano and an eruption has begun, run as far as possible.

The aftermath of a volcanic eruption
In October 2014, the volcano erupted again. There were also eruptions in June 2015.
On May 22, 2016, the Sinabung eruption killed at least seven people.
There was another eruption in November 2016.
In early August 2017, Sinabung erupted again.

Volcano today

In the vicinity of Sinabung, there are extinct settlements that closely resemble ghost towns. Their post-apocalyptic landscapes evoke a sense of anxiety. But, despite such life-threatening conditions, people still live near the volcano. In addition to fertile soil and rich harvests, locals some minerals are mined here.

Fans of extreme impressions are frequent visitors to Sinabung. Many travelers dream of being on this powder keg.

Sinabung volcano photo

Ash cloud

The eruption of Mount Agung in northeastern Bali began over the weekend. As a result, nearby resorts and villages were covered with a thin layer of ash. Dark gray clouds over the top of the volcano were visible in the island's capital, Denpasar, and even from the neighboring island of Lombok.

Lava flow ejection

As night fell, a bright glow from the crater illuminated an ash cloud that rose 6,000 meters above the summit of Mount Agung. He started showing signs of activity back in September, prompting local authorities raise the volcano's hazard status to emergency and evacuate 140,000 people living nearby. However, later, on October 29, the danger level was lowered.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Highest point in Bali

The Agung volcano, 3142 meters high, is the most high point islands. As a result of gas and ash emissions, the operation of two airports at once - on the island of Bali and on neighboring island Lombok.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Paradise under the ashes

Bali island - main tourist centre Indonesia. Beautiful ocean beaches, temples and lush forests attract about 5 million tourists a year. But according to Made Sugiri, a spokesman for the local Mahagiri Panoramic hotel, the number of visitors has dropped in recent months: "We have moved out of the danger zone, but, as in other resorts in the region, of course, the eruptions are causing an outflow of tourists."

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

"Still Safe"

The Indonesian Emergency Management Agency points out that Bali is "still safe" for tourists. The agency said in a statement that the emergency status for Agung remained at 3 over the weekend (one point below the highest hazard indicator). At the same time, despite a number of eruptions, volcanic activity remains relatively stable.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Airports closed

The situation was different with the status of air travel over the island - on Sunday, November 26, the level of danger here reached the highest - red - mark. Although many flights continued to operate, hundreds of people were stranded. As a result, the airport on the island of Lombok was first closed, and then the main one. international Airport Ngurah Rai in Bali.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Exclusion zone around the volcano

Some 25,000 people have fled their homes as a result of recent lava emissions. The authorities urged everyone within the exclusion zone within a radius of 7.5 kilometers from the volcano's crater to evacuate immediately. Mount Agung is one of over 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Victims of his last major eruption, which happened in 1963, became more than a thousand people.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Magma and ash

Volcanologists described the renewed activity of the Agung volcano on November 25 as a phreatic explosion, that is, an eruption with evaporation of smoke caused by the heating and expansion of groundwater. On November 26, authorities said that, judging by the settling of the ash, a magmatic eruption had already begun.

The eruption of Mount Agung in Bali

Bali precautions

"Mount Agung is still spewing ash, but we need to watch closely and be prepared for a more powerful, explosive eruption," warns Indonesian volcanologist Gede Suantika. Soldiers and police are handing out protective masks to people in nearby villages and resorts.

The largest cluster of volcanoes is located in the "fire belt" of the Earth - the Pacific volcanic ring. It is here that 90% of all earthquakes in the world have occurred. The so-called fire belt stretches along the entire perimeter of the Pacific Ocean. In the west, along the coast from and to New Zealand and Antarctica, and in the east, passing through the Andes and the Cordillera, it reaches the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

One of the currently active centers of the "fire belt" is located in the north of Indonesia - the Sinabung volcano. This one of 130 volcanoes in Sumatra is notable for the fact that over the past seven years it has been constantly active and has attracted the attention of both scientists and the media.

Chronicle of Sinabung

The first eruption of the Indonesian volcano Sinabung after four centuries of sleep began in 2010. On the weekend of 28 and 29 August, there was an underground rumble and hum. Many residents, about 10,000 people, fled away from the awakened volcano.

On Sunday night, the Sinabung volcano woke up completely: the eruption began with a powerful ejection of a column of ash and smoke more than 1.5 km upward. The explosion on Sunday was followed by a more powerful one on Monday, August 30, 2010. The eruption claimed the lives of two people. In total, about 30,000 surrounding residents were forced to leave their homes and fields covered with volcanic ash with a lost crop. In the photo below, residents are running away from a cloud of ash.

The second eruption of Mount Sinabung began on November 6, 2013 and then lasted for several more days. The volcano threw out columns of ash to a height of 3 km, the plume from which spread for tens of kilometers. More than 5,000 people from 7 surrounding villages were evacuated. The Sumatran government urged not to approach the Sinabung volcano by more than 3 km.

In February 2014, a disaster struck. After termination volcanic activity(in early January) evacuated residents of villages located more than 5 km from the volcano were allowed to return home. But immediately after that, on February 1, a powerful lava ejection and pyroclastic flow took the lives of 16 people.

And until now, the Sinabung volcano does not calm down: a column of ash and smoke is visible for many kilometers, eruptions of various strengths and durations do not stop and take the lives of daredevils who risked returning to the volcano's exclusion zone with a radius of 7 km, which was organized by the government of Sumatra after the disaster of 2014.

It is noteworthy that in the exclusion zone you can find entire cities and ghost villages, crumbling, empty, as if the apocalypse had already overtaken the Earth. But there are also brave farmers who continue to live at the foot of Mount Sinabung. What attracts them so much?

Why do people settle near the foot of volcanoes

The soil on the slopes of volcanoes is extremely fertile due to the minerals that fall into it with volcanic ash. In a warm climate, you can grow more than one crop per year. Therefore, the farmers of Sumatra, despite the dangerous proximity of Mount Sinabung, do not leave their homes and arable land at its foot.

In addition to agriculture, they mine gold, diamonds, ore, and other minerals.

Why is a volcanic eruption dangerous?

Among people who do not live in geologically active areas, it is a common cliche that a volcanic eruption is associated solely with the flow of lava that rushes down the mountainside. And if a person is lucky to be or to settle and sow crops on the opposite side of it, then the danger has passed. Otherwise, you just need to climb higher on a rock or swim on a rock debris among lava, like on an ice floe on water, the main thing is not to fall. And it is better to run across to the right side of the mountain in time and wait an hour or two.

Lava is definitely deadly. As well as an earthquake that accompanies a volcanic eruption. But the flow is moving rather slowly, and a physically full-fledged person is able to get away from it. An earthquake also does not always have a large magnitude.

In fact, pyroclastic flows and volcanic ash are of great danger.

Pyroclastic flows

The red-hot gas that escapes from the depths of the volcano picks up stones and ash and sweeps away everything in its path, rushing down. Such streams reach a speed of 700 km / h. For example, you can imagine the Sapsan train at full speed. Its speed is about three times slower, but despite this, the picture is quite impressive. The temperature of gases in the rushing mass reaches 1000 degrees, it can burn all life on the way in a matter of minutes.

One of the deadliest known in history, killed 28,000 people at once (according to some sources, up to 40,000 people) in the port of Saint-Pierre on May 8, 1902 in the morning of the Mont Pele volcano, at the foot of which the port was located, after a series of monstrous explosions threw out a cloud of hot gas and the ashes, which in a matter of minutes reached settlement... The pyroclastic current swept through the city at a breakneck speed, and there was no escape even on the water, which instantly boiled and killed everyone who fell into it from overturned ships in the harbor. Only one ship managed to get out of the bay.

In February 2014, such a stream killed 14 people during the eruption of the Indonesian volcano Sinabung.

Volcanic ash

At the time of the eruption, ash and rather large stones thrown out by the volcano can burn or cause injury. If we talk about the ash that covers everything around after the eruption, then its consequences are more long-lasting. In its own way, it is even beautiful - the post-apocalyptic landscape from the island of Sumatra in the photo below confirms this.

But ash is bad for the health of people and pets. Walking in such a place for a long time without a respirator is deadly. Ash is also very heavy and, especially when mixed with rainwater, can break through the roof of a house, crashing it onto those inside.

In addition, in large quantities, it is detrimental to agriculture.

Cars, airplanes, water treatment plants, even communication systems - everything breaks down under a layer of ash, which also indirectly poses a danger to human life.

Extreme tourism

Not only the farmer, whose reasons are very clear, can be found near the recent epicenter of the eruption. Extreme tourism on the slopes of active volcanoes generates income for the local population. In the photo, an extreme tourist who explores an abandoned city at the foot of Mount Sinabung in the exclusion zone. Behind him, a column of smoke is clearly visible, smoking over the volcano.

Man and nature continue to wage an unequal battle with each other!