Indonesian officials are evacuating hundreds more residents near Mount Sinabung as the volcano continues to increase a lava flow and eruptions.

Gede Suantika, government volcanologist, said that 28 hot ash avalanches took place in one day on Mount Sinabung.  The lava dome on the mountain continues to build in size creating the  possibility of a serious eruption.

The number of people evacuated in recent weeks has topped 3,000.

The circle of exclusion around the mountain is now 3 miles.  Residents forced to flee have been complaining about the forced evacuation, saying they are farmers and they have no way to make a living if they are forced off their land.

However, a Saturday blast of hot ash spread two miles from the volcano, leading the government to expand the forced evacuation and removal of angry residents.

The mountain has caused scientists to keep it on the highest alert level since June 2 with a lava dome estimated at 106 million cubic feet.

The mountain came alive after 400 years of dormancy in 2010.  Last year, an eruption left 17 people dead.  The mountain is on the Pacific Ring of Fire.