LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Mount Sinabung Volcano eruption has left two dead and thousands under evacuations as Sinabung emerged from volcanic inactivity this weekend to send smoke miles into the air.

The last time Mount Sinabung exemplified any volcanic activity was nearly 400 years ago in 1600. Now dust is blanketing the region as the  Directorate of Vulcanology has increased volcanic danger alert warning systems to their highest levels. On Sunday, Muhammad Irsal with the Red Cross confirmed to local news that two persons have died from the volcanic eruption. Their causes of death are respiratory problems.

Red Cross officials now put evacuation numbers at 18,000. As reported previously on LALATE, evacuation centers have been set up in government buildings and places of worship. Now Tarigan, an disaster relief official, confirms that evacuation numbers could still grow by Sunday evening.

Irsal tells news “At midnight, there was a strong shock – believed to be a volcanic earthquake. Immediately after, we saw lava come down from the peak of Sinabung, and fire began to burn the forest at the foot of the mountain.” Surono, head of the region’s nation volcano disaster alert system, updated news today that “Previously, there was no significant activity at the Mount Sinabung volcano, so the monitoring did not take priority since the 1600s…We’re recommending that the residents remain at the evacuation centres until further notice”

A local person tells news that smoke density has decreased but the remains of sulfur in the air has increased. There are said to be dozens, if not hundreds, of Indonesian Red Cross volunteers aiding local evacuation efforts.