MANADO (Antara): Ash spewed from Mount Soputan on the northern tip of Sulawesi island has covered villages on the volcano's western slopes, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate Thursday morning.

"A number of villages in Southeast Minahasa district on which ash has fallen have been put on a state of red alert," a spokesman for the district administration, Ronny Suwarno, said.

Ronny said the government would evacuate more residents living on the volcano's western slopes if the ash continued to spread in a westerly direction.

"The government will keep monitoring the emission of ashes. If there are signs of increased activity we will evacuate the affected residents," he said, adding the 1,783-meter high volcano has sent up ash 1,000 to 1,500 meters into the sky.

Ash also rained down on a number of villages in South Minahasa district, forcing residents to remain indoors.

Ash also rained down on a number of villages in South Minahasa district, forcing residents to remain indoors.

"The South Minahasa district administration is monitoring the situation in a number of villages which have the potential of being affected by the emission of ashes. The villages are Maliku, Kotamenara, Ritey and Kilometer Tiga," administration spokesman Benny Lumingkewas said.

The volcano last spewed ash and rock in the middle of August. (**)