If someone were superstitious they might think that there is something seriously amiss in this world. Two major volcanic eruptions within a week of each other – in different parts of the world seem awfully coincidental.

Perhaps in a scientific view, this earthly ‘blowing off steam’ is a good thing – it is taking pressure from the earth’s mantle and alleviating much needed steam.

Some, but not all, earthquakes are related to volcanoes. For example, most earthquakes are along the edges of tectonic plates. This is where most volcanoes are too. However, most earthquakes are caused by the interaction of the plates not the movement of magma.

But the most recent eruption in Indonesia is quite the display.

In Karo, Indonesia, the Mt. Sinabung volcano has been spewing lava and clouds of gas high into the sky let out a new, powerful burst Tuesday, prompting warnings for airplanes and triggering panic among villagers, officials said.

Nine eruptions Tuesday sent lava and searing gas tumbling out of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province, said Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. The volcano started spitting clouds of gas and lava as high as 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) in the air late Monday, but no casualties were reported.

He reported that more than 19,000 people have been evacuated from villages in a danger zone 5 kilometers (3 miles) around the crater to temporary shelters since authorities raised the alert status for Sinabung to the highest level in November.

Walking through the local villages is evidence of the ravage this volcano is releasing – as ash has covered farms and houses as far as 70 km/43 miles southeast of the mountain.

Mount Sinabung stands at 8,530 feet and has been making noise since September. It also erupted in 2010 killing two people, catching them and scientists unexpectedly since the volcano hasn’t made a sound for centuries.

Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said airlines had been notified to avoid routes near the mountain.

Mount Sinabung is just one of around 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic activity due the location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

Image via YouTube