The fiery crater of Mount Ruang was illuminated by lightning bolts following four eruptions, leading to the highest alert level in a four-tiered system.
Indonesian emergency responders urgently worked to evacuate thousands of people on Thursday after the volcano erupted five times. As a result, authorities closed a nearby airport and issued a warning about potential falling debris that could trigger a tsunami. The volcano, located in Indonesia’s outermost region, continued to emit a plume of smoke on Thursday morning, causing the temporary closure of Manado city’s international airport on Sulawesi island for 24 hours.
Officials are urgently working to evacuate 11,000 residents from the surrounding region, including the isolated island of Tagulandang, which has approximately 20,000 inhabitants. Some people have already attempted to escape in a state of panic, as reported by local authorities.
Jandry Paendong, a representative from the local search and rescue agency, explained that the previous night, residents evacuated without proper guidance due to the volcano’s eruption and the falling of small rocks. Consequently, people were trying to find alternative evacuation routes.
As of Thursday, 20 staff members from the agency were aiding in the evacuation process along the coastline near the volcano, using rubber boats. Paendong emphasized the need for additional boats and equipment to support his team in evacuating people living near or along the coast who are in danger from the volcano.
Both tourists and local residents have been advised to stay outside a six-kilometer exclusion zone for their safety. Over 800 individuals were first evacuated to Tagulandang island, situated nearby, following the initial eruption on Tuesday night. Subsequently, four additional eruptions occurred on Wednesday.
Tsunami warning
Authorities have issued warnings of a potential tsunami resulting from the volcanic eruptions on Tagulandang Island. Residents, especially those near the coast, are advised to stay vigilant against the possible ejection of incandescent rocks, hot clouds, and tsunami triggered by the volcano’s collapse into the sea. Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesia’s volcanology agency, shared this concern in a statement on Wednesday.
These concerns are further heightened by past events. In 2018, the collapse of Mount Anak Krakatoa between Java and Sumatra islands led to a major eruption, sending chunks of the volcano into the ocean and causing a tsunami that claimed over 400 lives and injured thousands.
Indonesia, being part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activities due to the collision of tectonic plates. This geographical feature stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The eruption of Mount Ruang led to the temporary closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado city for 24 hours. The airport, located over 100 kilometers from the volcano, had to shut down its runways due to the spread of volcanic ash, which posed a threat to flight safety. Ambar Suryoko, head of the Manado region airport authority office, confirmed this decision.
The airport serves airlines flying to Singapore, South Korea, and China, and its closure impacted all flights due to the eruption’s effects. A 29-year-old airport officer in Manado further explained the situation to AFP over the phone.
