A volcano in Indonesia has erupted again, prompting authorities to order evacuations and close a nearby airport. Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province has been active since mid-April.

North Sulawesi

Indonesia's Mount Ruang, located in North Sulawesi province, has erupted again, leading to ordered evacuations and the closure of a nearby airport. The volcano has been showing signs of activity since mid-April. The government has taken steps to resettle affected families by providing them land, acknowledging the area around the volcano is unsafe for their return.

In the early hours, the volcano erupted, projecting ash thousands of metres into the air, accompanied by lightning around the crater and lava emissions. This event is part of ongoing volcanic activity on Ruang Island over recent weeks. Residents of Tagulandang Island, within a seven-kilometre radius of the volcano, have been advised to evacuate to Siau Island for their safety, due to the risk posed by potential rock and ash cloud emissions.

The Manado airport, located approximately 100 kilometres from Mount Ruang, has had to suspend operations again this month as the volcanic ash compromises visibility. This has affected 38 flights and disrupted travel plans for 3,842 passengers. Additionally, there is concern that a tsunami could be triggered if significant amounts of volcanic material were to fall into the sea.

Indonesia, known for its array of active volcanoes, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This area is notorious for its high seismic activity due to the intersection of multiple tectonic plates.



Indonesia orders evacuations after volcano erupts again

Mount Ruang in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province erupted in the early hours of Tuesday morning, sending up plumes of ash thousands of metres high. Lightning flashed above the crater and lava spewed into the sky. It's the latest eruption in weeks of volcanic activity on Ruang Island. The government issued evacuation orders earlier this month and says it is helping to resettle some families. It will provide them with land as it isn't safe for them to return home. Meanwhile, people living on the nearby Tagulandang Island are also being urged to move to safety. Authorities are worried the volcano could spew rocks and ash clouds. The people in Tagulandang are in the radius of seven kilometres from the top of the crater. So the plan is they will be evacuated to Siau Island. The airport in Manado, the provincial capital, about 100 kilometres away from the volcano, has been closed for the second time this month as volcanic ash is restricting visibility. We closed operations because of the alert level since seven in the morning. There are 38 planes impacted, both arriving and departing, and a total of 3,842 passengers. Authorities have also warned a tsunami could be triggered if large amounts of volcanic material fall into the sea. Indonesia is home to some of the world's most active volcanoes. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity where many tectonic plates intersect. Jessica Washington, Al Jazeera, Jakarta.

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