Indonesia volcano Sinabung in deadly eruption

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1 February 2014 Last updated at 15:03



A villager run as Mount Sinabung erupt at Sigarang-Garang village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, February 1


A volcano has erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, engulfing villages in ash and killing at least 14 people.

Mount Sinabung spewed hot gas, ash and rocks 2km (1.5 miles) into the air in a series of eruptions during the morning.

Emergency official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said three schoolchildren and a teacher were among the dead.

Thousands were evacuated in September when Sinabung erupted after being dormant for three years. Many were allowed back to their homes on Friday.

Officials fear there may have been more casualties, but they cannot get closer because of the heat from the eruption.

Pictures taken at the scene showed rescue workers recovering bodies that were buried in ash.

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A giant cloud of hot volcanic ash clouds engulfs villages in Karo district during the eruption of Mount Sinabung volcano located in Sumatra on February 1

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Saturday's eruption was the worst since Sinabung came back to life in 2010, after 400 years dormancy.



Long-exposure photograph taken on January 27, 2014 from Karo district of Mount Sinabung volcano during an eruption

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When the volcano erupted in 2010, at least two people were killed and 30,000 others were displaced.

Before 2010, Sinabung had not erupted in 400 years.

It is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.

Experts say Sinabung has been studied less than more active volcanoes, making it more difficult to predict.



A tourist rides a horse as Sinabung spews volcanic materials in Gundaling, January 21

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For the past five months, Indonesians have become accustomed to eruptions from Sinabung.



A woman covers her nose and mouth from volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Sibintun, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Sunday, Jan. 19

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Hopefully emergency response units and medical personnel will be sent to the affected region in earnest.