Indonesian volcano spews 250m column of ash, forcing 11,000 to evacuate

People look at the Ruang volcano on Tagulandang island in Sitaro, North Sulawesi on April 19. The volcano continued to erupt on the afternoon of April 20 - Photo: AFP

According to AFP, the threat from the Ruang volcano in Indonesia is not over yet, as it continued to spew out a column of ash on April 20. The volcano has erupted several times this week.

Mount Ruang, located in the outermost part of North Sulawesi province, began erupting late on April 16. Authorities evacuated thousands of people on islands near the volcano and closed the nearest international airport.

Authorities said the volcano erupted again just before midnight on April 19 and continued to erupt on the afternoon of April 20, sending a column of ash 250 meters above the summit. Indonesia's volcanology agency warned that major eruptions were still possible.

Mount Ruang - which has a peak of 725m above sea level - is the only volcano among Indonesia's more than 100 currently at the highest alert level in a four-tier alert system.

Authorities have imposed a 6km exclusion zone around the volcano.

More than 6,000 residents on neighboring Tagulandang Island (home to about 20,000 people) have been evacuated outside the restricted area, a local official said on April 19.

Earlier, Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) ordered more than 11,000 residents living around Mount Ruang to evacuate their homes after the volcano's eruption intensity increased.

Indonesia's volcanology agency recommends people wear masks to avoid respiratory problems.

The latest volcanic activity also prompted authorities to extend the closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado City (capital of North Sulawesi province), more than 100km away.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nui-lua-indonesia-phun-cot-tro-bui-250m-khien-11-000-nguoi-so-tan-20240420183807147.htm