Multiple eruptions of the Ruang mountain volcano in Indonesia have triggered a tsunami alert and led to the evacuation of over 11,000 people from at-risk areas. The volcano, located on the northern side of Sulawesi island, experienced at least five large eruptions within 24 hours, prompting authorities to raise the volcano alert to its highest level.
The eruptions sent ash and lava thousands of feet into the sky, with Mount Ruang spewing lava multiple times on Wednesday alone. Tourists and residents in nearby regions have been urged to stay at least 6 kilometers away from the 725-meter volcano, and authorities have closed the local airport due to the repeated eruptions.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency issued a tsunami alert following the volcanic activity, with plans to relocate evacuated residents to Manado, the nearest city on Sulawesi island. While there have been no reports of casualties, two villages on Ruang Island were completely evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The volcano agency warned locals to remain vigilant for potential hazards such as rock ejections, hot cloud discharges, and tsunamis resulting from the collapse of the volcano into the sea. The recent increase in volcanic activity is attributed to two recent earthquakes that caused instability in the tectonic plates.
Authorities are working to clear the island completely, and no activity is allowed within a 4 km radius of the eruption site. The situation remains closely monitored as the risk of further eruptions persists.
