The number of people taking shelter after a small eruption of a volcano in North Sumatra, Indonesia rose to 5,956 on Monday from over 3,000 on Sunday, an official said.

Mount Sinabung in Karo district, North Sumatra province, erupted at 02:51 a.m. local time, spewing hit ashes and rocks into surrounding villages, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency.

Three kilometers evacuation zone has been declared, he said. "The number of evacuees coming from the slope of Mount Sinabung keeps rising," Sutopo told Xinhua by phone.

Emergency relief aids, including blankets and foods, have arrived, he said.

On Monday, the volcano kept spewing ashes, spreading to east and northeast, said Sutopo.

Indonesia is homed by 129 active volcanoes. Endi

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