Mount Ruang, located in North Sulawesi Province, has unleashed a series of eruptions, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 11,000 people and causing significant disruptions to air travel in the region.
The initial eruption on Tuesday evening was followed by four more eruptions on Wednesday, spewing ash and smoke over two kilometers into the sky.
Indonesia’s volcanology agency swiftly raised the alert level to four, signaling the highest level of danger. As a precautionary measure, the exclusion zone around the crater was extended from four to six kilometers.
The evacuations began with over 800 people relocated to Tagulandang Island, with plans to move more residents to the safer grounds of Manado.
Abdul Muhari, head of the disaster agency’s information center, emphasised the necessity for evacuation, citing the expanding risk zone.
Authorities are on high alert for the potential collapse of part of the volcano into the sea, which could trigger a tsunami, echoing a historical event from 1871.
Muhammad Wafid of Indonesia’s geological agency reported that the eruptions have propelled ash columns as high as 2.5 kilometers.
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Aviation authorities responded to the volcanic activity by closing Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado until at least Thursday evening, citing the threat posed by volcanic ash to flight safety.
The closure has impacted flights not only in Indonesia but also in neighboring Malaysia, particularly at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The heightened activity at Mount Ruang follows recent seismic events, indicating increased volcanic instability. Indonesia’s geographical location along the volatile ‘Ring of Fire’ makes it particularly prone to volcanic eruptions, with over 120 active volcanoes dotting its landscape.
This latest eruption serves as a reminder of the destructive potential of volcanic activity, recalling the tragic events of 2018 when the eruption of Anak Krakatoa triggered a devastating tsunami, claiming hundreds of lives along the coasts of Sumatra and Java.
