JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia’s Mount Ruang volcano, situated in the remote region of North Sulawesi province, unleashed a series of eruptions on Tuesday, prompting evacuations, the closure of a nearby international airport, and the escalation of the alert level to its highest point.
The country’s volcanology agency reported multiple eruptions, including one around 01:15 am local time and two more on Tuesday morning. The volcanic activity sent a towering column of ash soaring more than five kilometers into the sky, raising concerns about potential hazards such as incandescent rock ejections, hot clouds, and tsunamis caused by eruption material entering the sea.
As a precautionary measure, authorities reinstated a six-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano, urging residents to remain vigilant. Images captured by the agency depicted a fiery red column rising from the crater, accompanied by a large ash cloud and burning embers near local residences.
The recent eruption compelled the evacuation of all 800 residents living on Mount Ruang, many of whom had returned home after the previous emergency response status had ended. However, it remains unclear how many individuals had to evacuate again due to the heightened volcanic activity.
In response to the volcanic ash, Sam Ratulangi International Airport in the provincial capital of Manado, located over 100 kilometers away, was temporarily closed, according to a notice from AirNav Indonesia, the state-run air traffic control provider.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences seismic and volcanic events due to its geographical location. Mount Ruang’s eruption serves as a stark reminder of the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and vigilance in mitigating their impact on local communities.
