Indonesia found itself under a tsunami alert as the Ruang volcano erupted, unleashing explosive plumes of lava, rocks, and ash for several days. Authorities swiftly took action, closing a provincial airport and evacuating hundreds of people from the surrounding area, declaring the highest level of alert in response to the situation.
The eruption on Wednesday was a dramatic event, with the volcano on a remote island in North Sulawesi province shooting a fiery red column of lava, incandescent rock, and ash up to three kilometers into the sky. Videos circulating on social media captured the ominous purple flashes of lightning illuminating the sky above the erupting volcano, adding to the spectacle and urgency of the situation.
Witnesses scrambled to evacuate as ash and debris descended, with one individual capturing the chaos on video, expressing the need to flee as the ash drew near.
Over 800 people were evacuated from the area, with authorities expanding the evacuation zone as the volcanology agency raised the alert status. Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, an official from the agency, emphasized the ongoing high potential for further eruptions, underscoring the need for continued vigilance.
Reports indicated that falling rocks and ash had caused damage to homes and necessitated the evacuation of a nearby hospital. To mitigate the impact of the eruption, transport authorities closed the airport in the provincial capital of Manado, while budget airline Air Asia canceled flights from nine airports in East Malaysia and Brunei due to safety concerns.
As the situation unfolds, officials are taking precautionary measures, cordoning off a six-kilometer area around the volcano and initiating further evacuations, including residents from the neighboring island of Tagulandang. Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the disaster mitigation agency, highlighted the urgency of evacuating approximately 1,500 individuals from high-risk areas, with nearly 12,000 more potentially affected.
Moreover, officials have raised concerns about the possibility of a tsunami triggered by the collapse of parts of the mountain into the ocean below. Historical records indicate that a previous eruption of the volcano in 1871 resulted in a tsunami that claimed the lives of around 400 people, underscoring the importance of preparedness and swift action in response to natural disasters of this nature.
