December 27, 2017 Eruption of Sinabung

Crops in several villages across Karo regency, North Sumatra, have been damaged by thick volcanic ash from Mount Sinabung, following its eruption on Wednesday. Karo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Martin Sitepu said many crops in the regency were threatened with failure. "Data on potential losses are being collected but it is certain that most of farming land of residents in several villages has been damaged by volcanic ash," Martin said on Thursday. Wednesday’s Sinabung eruption was the biggest eruption of the volcano in 2017, spewing volcanic ash and hot clouds as far as 3,500 meters to the southeast-east and 4,600 m south-southeast. It affected a number of villages including Namanteran, Sukanali Kota Tonggal and Gamber. (reference #12004)

PVMBG reported that during 27 December 2017-2 January 2018 events at Sinabung generated ash plumes that rose as high as 3.2 km above the crater rim, and avalanches of material that traveled as far as 1.5 km E, SE, and S. Pyroclastic flows descended the E, SSE, and S flanks during 27-29 December, traveling 4.6 km SSE and 3.5 km E and S. (reference #2432)