Indonesia volcano erupts

Jakarta: The Mount Sinabung volcano in Indonesia's Sumatra Island erupted on Monday, spewing columns of ash as high as five km with hot ash sliding down its slope.

Head of National Volcanology Agency Kasbani said the hot ash slides were 4.9 km to the southeast of the crater and 3.5 km to the east.

"This is the highest eruption for this year," he told Xinhua news agency.

However, Kasbani said the ash from the volcano does not disturb flights.

"The ash does not head to Medan city and compounds of Kualanamu international airport," he added.

Mount Sinabung volcano had been quiet for four centuries before erupting in 2010. The volcano had also erupted in 2014 and 2016.