Thousands flee fearing Indonesian volcano

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

JAKARTA (AFP) — Thousands of villagers have fled homes lying in the path of red-hot lava flows oozing from Indonesia's Mount Karangetang as the volcano has been put on top alert.

The top alert status means that scientists Friday believe an eruption of the volcano, one of the archipelago nation's most active, could be imminent.

More than 3,900 residents from five villages living around the slopes of the 1,784-meter (5,850 feet) volcano were evacuated Thursday and Friday, said Boy Rompas, a spokesman for the North Sulawesi provincial administration.

Many villagers returned to their homes Friday to tend their fields but were expected back at the shelters at night, Rompas said, adding that local officials would deliver food and medicines to the shelters on...