Indonesian volcano eruption kills 6

Officials confirmed that at least six people were killed in a volcanic eruption in Palue, a tiny island in Indonesia.

13:31 13 August 2013

Mount Rokatenda, an active volcano found on the tiny island of Palue, which is about 1,250 miles east of Jakarta, had erupted on Saturday morning killing at least six people. Officials confirmed that volcano spewed ash and rocks 2km into the air.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that the victims consist of four adults and two children.

The volcano had been rumbling since last year, but a spokesman from the volcanology agency for Indonesia stated many villagers who were accustomed to the volcano’s activity ignored the mandatory evacuation order, as referred to in one report by the BBC.

Tini Thadeus, head of the local disaster agency, confirmed that the victims died while sleeping in the beachside village and that they were among those who refused to leave last year.

"On their belief, if all the old villagers abandoned the red (danger) zone, then lava will destroy the residential area.”

"But unfortunately, not like in the past, lava from Saturday's eruption flowed northward and hit them.”