Over 11,000 evacuated in northern Indonesia as volcano erupts
Authorities in Indonesia have closed an airport, and residents have evacuated homes near an erupting volcano owing to the risk of spreading ash, falling boulders, heated volcanic clouds, and a tsunami. Mount Ruang on the northern side of Sulawesi Island has had at least five eruptions in the last 24 hours. The first eruption occurred at 9:45pm local time on Tuesday. "Mount Ruang's level was raised from Level 3 to Level 4," confirmed Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesia's volcanology agency.
Over 11,000 residents evacuated amid volcanic eruptions
The eruptions from Mount Ruang have led to the evacuation of over 11,000 residents from surrounding areas. Residents are being relocated to Manado, Sulawesi Island's closest city, which is a six-hour boat ride away. Additionally, two villages on Ruang Island have been completely evacuated as a safety measure in response to the escalating situation. People have also been ordered to keep at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from the 725-meter (2,378-foot) mountain.
Tsunami warning and airport suspension follow eruptions
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency in Indonesia has urged locals to "be on alert for the potential ejection of rocks, hot cloud discharges and tsunami caused by the collapse of the volcano's body into the sea." The agency further noted that recent seismic activity has increased the volcanic activity in Ruang due to tectonic plate instability.
Malaysia Airlines has suspended several flights
Mount Ruang's history and Indonesia's volcanic landscape
Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano, has formed over time due to explosive eruptions of lava, rock fragments, ash, and other materials. Its last significant eruption was in 2002 when it ejected a column of lava and ash up to 17km high. Over 300 volcanic earthquakes were recorded during a two-week period before this current eruption. Indonesia is home to 120 active volcanoes and is located along the "Ring of Fire," a chain of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Ocean.
