Indonesia issues tsunami alert
Indonesian authorities have issued a tsunami alert following multiple eruptions of Mount Ruang, a remote island volcano located in North Sulawesi. The volcano, standing at 725 meters (2,400 feet), erupted at least five times overnight on April 17, 2024, spewing lava and ash plumes thousands of feet into the sky.
The country’s volcanology agency raised the alert level to the highest possible, urging people to stay at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from the volcano’s peak. Officials fear that Mount Ruang could partially collapse into the sea, potentially triggering a tsunami, reminiscent of an event in 1871.
Mount Ruang, classified as a stratovolcano, is known for its steep sides and explosive eruptions caused by the buildup of gas in the magma. Recent earthquakes in the area have been cited as triggers for the eruptions.
Dramatic footage captured plumes of ash rising into the sky and streams of lava flowing down the volcano’s slopes, accompanied by lightning strikes. Villagers residing on Ruang Island, home to approximately 800 people, have been evacuated to neighboring Tagulandang Island as a precaution.
While there have been no reported casualties, authorities have warned residents on Tagulandang to remain vigilant for falling rocks and hot cloud surges.
Indonesia, with over 120 active volcanoes, sits along the Ring of Fire, a volatile zone of seismic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean. The 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau, another Indonesian volcano, led to a devastating tsunami that claimed hundreds of lives along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
