The Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VACC), in
Indonesian authorities also upgraded its Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) to red, its highest warning, and said the ash-cloud top had reached 7,276 metres.
Sinabung is about 75 km southwest of
Nur Isnin Istianto, head of the regional airport authority, said Kutacane airport in Aceh province had been closed, but the wind direction allowed Kualanamu, Meulaboh and Silangit airports to remain open.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for
In five districts it became dark with a visibility of about 5 metres, he said.
No casualties were reported, but the agency urged the public to stay out of a 7-km exclusion zone around the crater, and watch for further warnings, which could cover floods.
Areas around the crater of the volcano, located about 1,900 km northwest of the capital of
VNA