JAKARTA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Kerinci volcano on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia erupted on Wednesday at 05:46 a.m. local time (22:46 GMT Tuesday), spewing thick, gray ash up to 900 meters in the air.
"The seismogram recorded the eruption for 8 minutes and 20 seconds with a plume of ash heading east and northeast," said Irwan Safwan, an observer at the Kerinci Volcano Observation Post.
The mountain, 3,805 meters above sea level, is now at the second danger level, according to Safwan.
Authorities warned people to keep away from the danger zone within a 3-km radius of the crater and to steer clear of rivers that feed into the mountain.
People are also urged to get masks ready to protect themselves from volcanic ash risks and to be prepared to evacuate at any moment.
The Jambi provincial government is currently building an evacuation route that passes through the Kerinci-Seblat National Park. ■