Sinabung

Mount Sinabung is an active stratovolcano located in North Sumatra, Indonesia, in the Karo Regency near the town of Berastagi. It rises to about 2,600 meters above sea level and is part of the Sunda Arc, formed by subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Sinabung had been dormant for centuries before renewed activity began in 2010. The initial eruption produced explosive ash plumes, lava flows, and pyroclastic activity, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents from surrounding areas. The eruption cycle continued through 2011 and reached a peak in 2013–2014, when rapid lava-dome growth and frequent pyroclastic flows caused significant destruction and fatalities. The summit crater and surrounding slopes remained highly active, with ongoing steam, gas emissions, and intermittent explosive events.

Since 2015, Sinabung has erupted intermittently, with periodic ash plumes reaching high altitudes and renewed lava-dome growth at times. These eruptions have led to periodic evacuations, agricultural losses, and disruptions to air traffic and local communities. The volcano is continuously monitored by Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), with hazard assessments and alert levels updated as conditions change. Local authorities maintain exclusion zones around the crater that are adjusted according to eruption intensity and risk to nearby populations.