Mount Ruang volcano, situated in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, unleashed multiple eruptions on Tuesday, prompting evacuations, the closure of a nearby international airport, and the elevation of the alert level to its maximum. This recent eruption, which occurred around 01:15 am local time, followed a series of eruptions earlier this month, totaling over half a dozen and necessitating the evacuation of more than 6,000 individuals.
According to Indonesia’s volcanology agency, the volcano, towering over its remote surroundings, spewed ash clouds exceeding five kilometers into the atmosphere. In response, a six-kilometer exclusion zone was reinstated, cautioning residents about potential hazards, including incandescent rocks, hot clouds, and tsunamis generated by the interaction of eruption material with the sea.
Dramatic images captured by the agency depicted a crimson plume rising from the crater, accompanied by billowing ash clouds and fiery debris near local settlements. Although over 800 individuals reside on Mount Ruang, all had been evacuated earlier this month. However, some returned home following the cessation of emergency protocols on Monday, though the exact number of returnees remains uncertain.
The renewed eruption prompted authorities to once again close the Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, the provincial capital located more than 100 kilometers away, citing volcanic ash as the cause. Indonesia, nestled within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences seismic and volcanic events due to its geographical positioning, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by natural phenomena in the region.
