Indonesia volcano eruption: Search for victims remains on hold

Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 7:57 PM -

Search and recovery teams have put the perilous task of looking for victims from the recent volcanic eruptions of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung  since Monday.

A  task force handling the emergency tried to resume search efforts on Wednesday, but had to put their efforts on hold after experts detected high volcanic activity.

The death toll currently stands at 16 after plumes of ash spewed more than a mile into the sky Saturday and descended in superheated clouds.

Scalding ash raced down the slope in just two to three minutes, engulfing Sukameriah, a village close to the volcano's crater.

A funnel of smoke has continued to shoot up from the North Sumatra mountain, turning the sky above the color of murky gray ash.

RELATED: Death toll rises in wake of Indonesia volcano eruption

Recovery teams ventured into the affected area Sunday, but they had to call off their search because conditions became unsafe.

Dozens of them set off again Monday morning -- a mixture of local rescue workers, military personnel and police -- after Indonesia's volcanology agency gave them clearance to proceed.

All of the dead, and at least three injured people, were found in Sukameriah, authorities said over the weekend.

It was the first time Mount Sinabung's volcanic output had resulted in deaths, the Jakarta Post reported.