At least 800 people have been evacuated from Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province following multiple eruptions of the Ruang volcano, which has been spewing lava and ash clouds into the sky for days, according to the country’s volcanology agency on Wednesday.
Situated on Ruang Island approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the provincial capital Manado, the volcano has erupted more than three times since Tuesday, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to the second highest.
Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, an official at Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), stated that recent earthquakes on the island triggered the eruptions, resulting in the emission of dangerous and “explosive hot clouds” reaching heights of up to 1.8 km (1.1 miles) into the sky.
“We must clear the island because we anticipate there could be more eruptions. No activity is allowed within four kilometers from the crater,” Purnamasari emphasized.
Footage captured by Reuters depicted streams of red lava cascading down the mountain, reflecting in the waters below, alongside billowing clouds of grey ash hovering above its crater.
Ruang Island, inhabited by approximately 838 residents, has seen most of its population evacuated to the nearest island of Tagulandang, as confirmed by Heruningtyas.
Indonesia, positioned along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” is no stranger to volcanic activity and seismic events due to its location atop multiple tectonic plates.
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