Mount Ibu on the remote Indonesian island of Halmahera erupted spectacularly, forcing authorities to evacuate residents from seven nearby villages. The eruption, which occurred on Saturday evening, sent a massive grey ash cloud 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky, accompanied by dramatic purple lightning flashes around its crater.Â
Indonesia's volcanology agency shared information and images of the eruption, highlighting the significant ash plume. In response to the eruption, a joint team of police, military, and search and rescue officials was deployed to evacuate residents from the affected areas. Abdul Muhari, a representative from the disaster mitigation agency, reported that elderly residents were assisted by authorities, while others were transported in pick-up trucks and housed in emergency tents overnight. Although the exact number of evacuees was not specified, authorities have recommended clearing a 7-kilometer (4.35-mile) radius around the volcano.
The alert level for Mount Ibu was raised to the highest level on Thursday after multiple eruptions earlier in the month. This event is part of a series of volcanic activities in Indonesia, which is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and home to 127 active volcanoes.
In addition to Mount Ibu, other volcanoes in Indonesia have also shown increased activity. On May 11, flash floods and cold lava flows from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province, one of the most active volcanoes, resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people. Recently, North Sulawesi's Ruang volcano erupted, spewing incandescent lava and prompting the evacuation of over 12,000 people from a nearby island.
The series of volcanic eruptions highlights the ongoing geological activity in Indonesia and the significant impact on local communities, necessitating swift and coordinated disaster response efforts.
