Indonesia raises alert level to maximum due to Ruang volcano eruption

Disaster management agency calls for "immediate" evacuation within a six-kilometer radius and warns of tsunami risk

The Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level to the maximum for the eruption of the Ruang volcano, located in the province of North Sulawesi, and have requested the "immediate" evacuation of the population within a radius of six kilometers, while which has warned of the risk of tsunami in the area.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) of Indonesia has indicated in a statement published on its website that the alert level has been raised to IV due to the increase in volcanic activity in Ruang since the beginning of April.

Thus, during the day of April 16, the volcano expelled a column of smoke and ash about 2,000 meters high, which increased to 3,000 meters during the day on Wednesday, "accompanied by roaring sounds and an earthquake that was also noted in Ruang Volcano Lookout".

The agency has stressed that the eruption has caused a rain of ash, accompanied by stone and gravel, in residential areas on the coast of Tagulandang, with several people injured by the impact of these materials. Authorities have evacuated nearly a thousand people in the area as a precaution.

For this reason, he has asked the population and tourists "not to enter a radius of six kilometers from the center of the active crater of the Ruang volcano" and has stated that residents "should be aware of the potential for the eruption of incandescent rocks, the "emergence of hot clouds and the appearance of tsunami waves, which could be caused by the collapse of a volcanic body in the sea."

"The public is recommended to always wear a mask to avoid being exposed to volcanic ash, which can affect the respiratory system," said the BNPB, which has called on residents in the area to "stay calm" and "not are provoked by rumors about the Ruang eruption.

On the other hand, the Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, the main airport in the province of North Sulawesi, closed this Thursday "until further notice" after detecting volcanic ash through field observations, as reported by the Antara news agency.

Therefore, flights are experiencing delays, although the authorities are holding a coordination meeting to try to solve the problems of the affected passengers and have recalled that this is "a natural factor that cannot be avoided."