The eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia caused widespread disruptions and evacuations, with more than 12,000 people forced to leave their homes. The volcano erupted three times on Tuesday, spewing lava and ash over five kilometers into the sky. As a result, several airports had to close, including major ones in Manado and Gorontalo, due to the spread of volcanic ash, which even reached eastern Malaysia.
Authorities rushed to evacuate residents from neighboring Tagulandang island to Siau island amid fears of a potential tsunami caused by parts of the volcano collapsing into the sea. The situation was described as alarming by Rosalin Salindeho, a 95-year-old resident, who witnessed the eruption and described it as terrifying, with rocks raining down twice.
The eruption prompted the country's meteorological agency to issue warnings, and the alert level for Mount Ruang remained at its highest. Julius Ramopolii, head of the volcano monitoring post, reported that the volcano was still emitting ash and smoke, reaching heights of 500-700 meters above the crater.
The fear of a tsunami was heightened due to past experiences, notably the 2018 eruption of Mount Anak Krakatoa, which triggered a deadly tsunami. Indonesia, being part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," frequently experiences volcanic and seismic activity, making such eruptions and their consequences unfortunately common occurrences in the region.
