In Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, at least 800 people have been evacuated due to multiple eruptions of the Ruang volcano, which has been active for several days, according to the country’s volcanology agency. The volcano, situated on Ruang island approximately 100 km from the provincial capital Manado, has erupted more than three times since Tuesday.
Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, an official at Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), informed Reuters that the alert level has been raised to the second-highest level due to increased activity. The eruptions have been triggered by recent earthquakes on the island, with the mountain releasing hazardous and “explosive hot clouds” up to 1.8 km into the sky.
Purnamasari emphasized the need to evacuate the island, stating, “We must clear the island because we anticipate there could be more eruptions. No activity is allowed within four kilometres from the crater.” Footage obtained by Reuters showed red lava flows streaming down the mountain and grey ash clouds billowing above its crater.
Ruang island is home to approximately 838 residents, most of whom have been evacuated to the nearby island of Tagulandang. Indonesia is located on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region of high seismic activity that lies atop multiple tectonic plates.
