Volcano Erupts on Remote Indonesian Island, Prompting Tsunami Alert and Evacuations

Volcano Erupts on Remote Indonesian Island, Prompting Tsunami Alert and Evacuations
Volcano erupts on a remote Indonesian island, leading to a tsunami alert and immediate evacuations. Stay updated on the developing situation.

A remote volcano on Indonesia’s Ruang Island has erupted multiple times since Tuesday night, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert and evacuate thousands of residents from the area. Mount Ruang, a 725-meter (2,400-foot) stratovolcano in North Sulawesi province, began erupting at 9:45pm local time on Tuesday, sending plumes of ash and smoke up to two kilometers into the sky. The volcano has since erupted at least four more times, with lava and incandescent rocks shooting from its crater.
Authorities Raise Alert Level and Widen Exclusion Zone
Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has raised the alert level for Mount Ruang to the highest level of four, warning that the volcano could partially collapse into the sea and trigger a tsunami, as it did during a previous eruption in 1871. The agency has also widened the exclusion zone around the crater from four to six kilometers.
More than 800 people were initially evacuated from Ruang Island to neighboring Tagulandang Island after the first eruption on Tuesday. However, authorities say that at least 11,615 residents who are in the risk area must now be evacuated to the provincial capital of Manado.
“The communities in Tagulandang island, particularly those residing near the beach, (need) to be on alert for the potential ejection of incandescent rocks, hot clouds discharges, and tsunami caused by the collapse of the volcano’s body into the sea,” said Hendra Gunawan, head of PVMBG.

Dramatic Footage and Disrupted Air Travel

Dramatic footage of the eruptions shows plumes of gray ash billowing into the sky and streams of glowing lava, accompanied by lightning strikes. Images also show houses on Tagulandang Island riddled with holes from falling volcanic rocks.
The eruption has disrupted air travel in the region, with Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado closed until at least Thursday evening due to the spread of volcanic ash. The airport has connections to countries including China, Singapore, and South Korea.
There was also significant disruption to flights to and from Kota Kinabalu International Airport in neighboring Malaysia.
Situation Remains Volatile
Indonesia, which sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has 120 active volcanoes. In 2018, the eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano triggered a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing hundreds of people.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders as the situation continues to develop. No casualties have been reported so far, but the potential for further eruptions and a possible tsunami remains a serious concern.

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