Indonesian officials announced that Mount Ruang volcano, located in a remote area, erupted multiple times on Tuesday. The authorities have raised the alert level to the highest degree and have instructed thousands of individuals to evacuate as a precaution against a potential tsunami caused by debris entering the sea.
The alert level on Sulawesi Island was elevated to its maximum by Indonesia’s geological agency due to the eruption, which propelled ash, lava, and rocks up to a height of two kilometres. Consequently, the authorities mandated the closure of the adjacent international airport.
The authorities at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, situated approximately 95 kilometres southeast of the volcano in the provincial capital of Manado, have ceased operations due to diminished visibility and the potential hazards volcanic ash presents to aircraft engines.
The Indonesian geological agency has once again advised residents within a 6-kilometre radius of Mount Ruang to evacuate. This recent eruption, the second one this month, has led to the closure of Sam Ratulangi airport and the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Earlier this month, a tsunami warning was issued by Indonesia due to a volcanic eruption on a distant island, resulting in the displacement of over 11,000 individuals. The Indonesian authorities mandated the evacuation of the villagers in response to several eruptions, as there were concerns that the volcano might crumble into the ocean, potentially causing a tsunami.
Mount Ruang is classified as a stratovolcano, characterized by its conical shape and steep slopes, primarily caused by the presence of thick, sticky lava that does not flow readily. Volcanologists explain that stratovolcanoes frequently experience explosive eruptions as a result of the accumulation of gas within the magma.
Indonesia, an archipelago in Southeast Asia with a population of 270 million, boasts over 120 active volcanoes, the highest number in the world. The country is susceptible to volcanic and seismic events due to its situation along the “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean, which consists of a network of seismic fault lines spanning approximately 40,000 kilometres from the western shores of North and South America to Japan and Southeast Asia.
