Mount Ruang, a volcano in northern Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Province, erupted multiple times, leading to the evacuation of over 11,000 people and disruptions in air travel. Here’s what we know about the situation and the response so far.
The first eruption occurred at 9:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, followed by four more eruptions on Wednesday. The volcano’s activity prompted Indonesia’s volcanology agency to raise the alert level for Mount Ruang to four, the highest on the scale. The agency also expanded the exclusion zone around the crater from four to six kilometers.
As a result, more than 800 people were initially evacuated from Ruang to nearby Tagulandang Island. However, due to the widening exclusion zone, authorities have now called for the evacuation of an additional 11,615 residents to Manado, the provincial capital, located more than 100 kilometers north of the volcano.
The eruptions have also affected air travel in the region. Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado was closed, and flights were disrupted at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Malaysia. The closure was due to the spread of volcanic ash, which poses a risk to flight safety.
Mount Ruang’s activity increased after two recent earthquakes in the region. This volcanic activity highlights the geological challenges faced by Indonesia, which sits along the ‘Ring of Fire,’ a region known for its tectonic activity.
While there have been no reports of deaths or injuries so far, officials are concerned about the possibility of part of the volcano collapsing into the sea and causing a tsunami, as happened during a previous eruption in 1871. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of residents and travelers in the area.
The eruption of Mount Ruang serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of volcanic activity and the importance of disaster preparedness and mitigation measures in vulnerable regions. As the situation continues to develop, authorities will continue to provide updates and guidance to the locals. The situation at Mount Ruang underscores the ongoing risk of volcanic activity in Indonesia.