Indonesia has closed a provincial airport and evacuated hundreds of residents from the area of the Ruang volcano, which has been spewing lava, rock and ash for days, officials said today, raising the highest level of alert for the situation. At the same time, a tsunami warning was issued.
Yesterday’s dramatic eruption of the volcano on a remote island in the province of North Sulawesi sent a column of red lava, red-hot rocks and ash up to three kilometers into the sky.
“We’re running guys,” said an eyewitness who was filming the explosion while trying to get away. “We are leaving because the ashes are close.”
More than 800 people were evacuated from the area, while authorities further widened the evacuation zone after the agency in charge of volcanoes raised the alert level.
“The potential for further eruption is still high, so there is a need to remain vigilant,” Heruningtia agency official Desi Pournamasari told reporters today, citing a rapid escalation of volcanic activity.
The agency also received information that rocks and ash have damaged homes and forced the evacuation of a nearby hospital, the official said.
Authorities closed the airport in the provincial capital Manado because of ash from the explosion.
Air Asia has grounded flights to nine airports in East Malaysia and Brunei after aviation authorities warned of a security threat.
Officials have cordoned off a six-kilometer area around the volcano and are evacuating more residents, some from the neighboring island of Tagulandang, said Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the disaster agency.