Aug. 29: Mount Sinabung emits volcanic smoke in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The
volcano spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early Sunday in its first eruption in
400 years causing thousands of people living around its slope to evacuate their homes.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early Sunday in its first eruption in 400 years.

Government volcanologist Surono, who uses only one name, said Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province started rumbling a few days ago and the minor morning eruption has mostly stopped.

It sent sand and ash up to a mile (1.5 kilometers) high but lava only moved near its crater. It caused no major damage and "only dust covered plants and trees," he said.

He said Mount Sinabung last erupted in 1600, so observers don't know the volcano's eruption pattern and are monitoring it closely for more activity.

Evacuations on the volcano's slopes started Friday at the first signs of activity. Up to 10,000 people who fled are staying in government buildings, houses of worship and other evacuation centers in two nearby towns.

The government has distributed 7,000 masks to refugees and set up public kitchens so people can cook food, said Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is on the so-called "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

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About HAARP read the section about "Conspiracy theories".

About Dick Cheney's post-VP life. Sorry, you're not cleared for that level.

About Mount Sinabung. Maybe throw in a few virgins, if they can find any.