At least 16 dead after Indonesian volcano Mount Sinabung erupts

At least 16 people were killed yesterday when an Indonesian volcano that had been rumbling for months unleashed a major eruption.

The blast came a day after authorities had allowed thousands of villagers who had been evacuated to return to its slopes, saying that activity had decreased, officials said.

Among the dead on Mount Sinabung were a local television journalist and four high-school students and their teacher who were visiting the mountain to see the eruptions up close, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

At least 10 other people were injured, and authorities feared the death toll would rise.

"The bodies were in a state where, even though their skin did not peel, their faces were swollen and the tongues were sticking out," a reporter on the ground said.

Sinabung, in western Sumatra, had been erupting for four months, sending lava and searing gas and rocks rolling down its southern slopes. Authorities had evacuated more than 30,000 people, housing them in cramped tents, schools and public buildings.

Many have been desperate to return to check on homes and farms, presenting a dilemma for the government.