Mount Sinabung, one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, may erupt again or find new seismic balance and be stable as its seismic activities remain high.

Xinhua News Agency cited the head of the National Volcanology Agency, who goes with single name Surono, as saying that the emergency relief period, which was to end on Jan. 4, is going to be extended as the tremors are still intense, dashing hope for 18,412 evacuees, who have been in shelters since last month, of returning home soon.

"The seismic activity of Sinabung is still high. I have not found out whether it is part of Sinabung activities to find new seismic balance and stable or to erupt again," he said.

Mount Sinabung in Karo district has rumbled to life since September after being dormant for 400 years, but it went into overdrive in November, pushing more evacuation, hence the authorities expanded evacuation zone to 5 km from 3 km earlier.

"I think the emergency relief period by up to Jan. 4 can not cope with the mount seismic activity. I foresee it will be expanded again," said Surono, referring to the one week extension.

On Nov. 3, the 2,457-meter Mount Sinabung volcano in Karo district of North Sumatra witnessed its strongest eruption since September, shooting a column of ash up to 7,000 meters to the sky. The authorities have then raised the threat alarm of the volcano to top level.

The Mount Sinabung volcano is among the 129 active volcanoes in the vast archipelago country, which is vulnerable to seismic upheaval as it lays on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."-VNA