Volcano erupts in Comoros, spewing lava and rattling residents

PARIS: A volcano spat forth lava and black smoke early Saturday on an island in Comoros in the Indian Ocean, triggering tremors throughout the day and rattling residents, officials said. The eruption of 2,360-meter (7,746-foot) Mount Karthala on Grand Comore, the largest of the three Comoros islands, did not endanger residents, Hamid Soule of the Karthala Observatory said by telephone.

The volcano started erupting overnight, bright orange flames showing up against the black sky, he said. The lava production appeared to slow by morning, but the volcano continued to shake and tremble throughout the day.

Many alarmed residents of the capital, Moroni — which sits at the foot of Karthala's western slope — gathered outside to watch the eruption and seek information, but no evacuations were deemed necessary, emergency officials said.

Karthala is known to erupt about every 11 years. It long stood silent after a 1991 eruption, but has been active three times in the past two years: in April 2005, when tens of thousands fled their homes, in May 2006, and on Saturday. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/13/africa/AF-GEN-Comoros-Volcano.php