Thousands Evacuated As Volcano Threatens

Indonesians near rumbling Mount Kelud in East Java were warned of an imminent eruption Friday, forcing more evacuations from the volcano’s vicinity.

Armed personnel were used to move residents who refused to evacuate, Antara news agency reported.

All parties should understand the effort because the real situation in the areas around the volcano required the armed personnel do so, National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto said. Thousands of people have been relocated since Tuesday.

The 5,680-foot high Mount Kelud, about 60 miles southwest of Surabaya city, was placed under the fourth level warning, meaning an eruption could occur within 24 hours. Indonesian scientists said an imminent eruption was possible although there had been a slowdown in seismic activity around the volcano.

A local district head said those evacuated included about 3,200 residents of a village located about 6 miles from the crater, the Antara report said.

Sutanto said more than 900 district police personnel were ordered in to stop looting or other criminal acts in the evacuated areas.

In 1919, an eruption of Mount Kelud killed some 5,000 people.