Amidst multiple eruptions of Indonesia’s Ruang volcano, located in North Sulawesi province, at least 800 individuals have been evacuated from the area, revealed the country’s volcanology agency on Wednesday.
Situated on Ruang Island approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the provincial capital Manado, the volcano has unleashed its fury in several eruptions since Tuesday, prompting authorities to escalate the alert level to the second highest.
The eruptions, triggered by recent earthquakes on the island, have led to the emission of hazardous and “explosive hot clouds” reaching heights of up to 1.8 km (1.1 miles) into the sky, as confirmed by Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, an official at Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
“To ensure safety, we must clear the island as we anticipate potential further eruptions. No activity is permitted within four kilometers from the crater,” Purnamasari emphasized.
Footage captured by Reuters illustrated the sight of red lava streaming down the mountain, juxtaposed with billowing clouds of grey ash above its crater.
Ruang Island, with approximately 838 residents, has witnessed the evacuation of most of its population to the nearby island of Tagulandang, as confirmed by Heruningtyas.
Indonesia, situated along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions due to its location atop multiple tectonic plates.
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