Earth Science News
SHAKE AND BLOW
Indonesia volcano erupts, thousands evacuated over tsunami threat
Indonesia volcano erupts, thousands evacuated over tsunami threat
by AFP Staff Writers
Manado, Indonesia (AFP) April 30, 2024

Indonesia's remote Mount Ruang volcano erupted several times on Tuesday, authorities said, issuing the highest level of alert and ordering thousands of people to evacuate due to the threat of a tsunami from debris sliding into the sea.

The country's volcanology agency had warned the threat from the volcano was not over after it erupted more than half a dozen times this month, sparking the evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

Ruang, located in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province, erupted at around 01:15 am local time on Tuesday (1715 GMT Monday) and then twice more that morning, the volcanology agency said in a statement.

The volcano sent a tower of ash more than five kilometres (3.1 miles) into the sky, it added, as well as a fiery column of lava.

The national disaster agency BNPB estimated 11,000 to 12,000 people had to be relocated from near Ruang's crater, spokesman Abdul Muhari told a press conference.

"Currently local disaster mitigation agency... military and police are evacuating residents," he said.

Images released by the agency showed a molten red column bursting into the sky, a large ash cloud spilling from the crater and burning embers near local houses.

The disaster agency imposed a seven-kilometre exclusion zone around Ruang after volcanology officials warned locals of "the potential for ejections of incandescent rocks, hot clouds and tsunamis due to eruption material entering the sea".

Abdul said a rescue ship and a warship had been dispatched to help move thousands from neighbouring Tagulandang island north to Siau island because of the tsunami warning.

"We urge people in Tagulandang island to stay away from coastal areas, to be on alert for the potential of a tsunami to occur," he said, citing an 1871 wave that killed around 400 people after volcanic debris fell into the sea.

- Relocations -

The tsunami fears were also informed by more recent events.

The crater of Mount Anak Krakatoa, between Java and Sumatra islands, also partly collapsed in 2018 when a major eruption sent huge chunks of the volcano sliding into the ocean, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured thousands.

More than 800 people live on Ruang, all of whom were evacuated this month.

Some had returned to their homes after the emergency response ended on Monday, an AFP journalist said.

It was unclear how many residents had gone back and how many were forced to evacuate once more.

But Abdul said those who were previously evacuated from Ruang had been to be taken to provincial capital Manado to await relocation, unable to return to their homes because of the fear of eruptions.

Ruang's latest eruption prompted authorities to again close Sam Ratulangi international airport in Manado, more than 100 kilometres away, according to a notice from state-run air traffic control provider AirNav Indonesia.

The notice said the airport was shutting down due to "Ruang volcanic ash".

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SHAKE AND BLOW
Volcano erupts in eastern Indonesia, spews miles-high ash tower
Jakarta (AFP) April 28, 2024
A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Sunday morning, spewing an ash tower more than two miles into the sky and prompting officials to warn people to keep away. Mount Ibu, located on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted at 12:37 am (1537 GMT Saturday) and sent a thick column of dark smoke and ash west of the peak. The eruption lasted more than three minutes and the ash towered 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) above the peak, an official at Mount Ibu's monitoring post, Axl Roe ... read more

SHAKE AND BLOW
Gaza aid pier 50 percent complete: Pentagon

At least 24 people killed in south China road collapse

Kenya's Ruto orders evacuations after deadly floods

Gazans struggle with heat, garbage, insect swarms

SHAKE AND BLOW
Microsoft announces $2.2 bn AI, cloud investment in Malaysia

Microsoft CEO pledges $1.7 bn AI, cloud investment in Indonesia

Production of minerals for clean energy is insufficient: UN

Exploring the Causes of Structural Failures Due to Buckling

SHAKE AND BLOW
Energy trade proposals offer solutions to Nile river conflict

China-friendly Manele elected as Solomon Islands PM

Colombia nears resumption of electricity sales to Ecuador

'It swept everything': Kenya villagers count toll of dam deluge

SHAKE AND BLOW
Emperor penguins perish as ice melts to new lows: study

West Antarctic ice shelf stability threatened by feedback loop

New geological map redefines understanding of Greenland's subterranean rocks

From peak to plummet: impending decline of the warm Arctic-cold continents phenomenon

SHAKE AND BLOW
Morocco's farming revolution: defying drought with science

Filipino farmers struggle as drought and heatwave hits

Intelsat and CNH to enhance Brazilian agriculture with satellite connectivity

Satellite Monitoring Highlights Soil Sealing Challenges in the Mediterranean

SHAKE AND BLOW
Indonesia volcano erupts, thousands evacuated over tsunami threat

Floods strand dozens of tourists in Kenya's Maasai Mara

Kenya's Ruto convenes cabinet meeting over deadly floods

Ten dead, 21 missing after heavy rains in Brazil

SHAKE AND BLOW
US says still talking to Niger about army pullout

Crocodile hunting wanes but legends live on in DR Congo

Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70

Burkina Faso says massacre report "baseless"

SHAKE AND BLOW
Exploring the Socioeconomic Drivers Behind Plummeting Fertility Rates

Biden calls ally Japan 'xenophobic' along with India, China

Iraq passes bill sentencing same-sex acts to 10-15 years' jail

Evidence of long term human occupation in lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.