Eruption Of Mt Ibu In Indonesia Forces Evacuation Of Seven Villages

A volcano on the remote Indonesian island of Halmahera erupted on Saturday evening, sending a grey ash cloud into the sky. Authorities have evacuated residents from seven nearby villages. Abdul Muhari from the disaster mitigation agency confirmed that a joint team of police, military, and search and rescue officials was dispatched to assist in the evacuation.

Mt. Ibu's eruption sent ash 4 km (2.5 miles) high, accompanied by streaks of purple lightning around its crater. Photos from Indonesia's volcanology agency showed authorities helping the elderly and moving residents into pick-up trucks. They were accommodated in emergency tents for the night. The agency has recommended clearing a seven-km (4.35-mile) radius around the volcano.

Indonesia's volcanology agency raised Mt. Ibu's alert level to the highest on Thursday after multiple eruptions earlier this month. This follows a series of volcanic activities across Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has 127 active volcanoes.

Recent Volcanic Activities

Flash floods and cold lava flow from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province covered several districts after torrential rain on 11th May, resulting in over 60 fatalities. Additionally, North Sulawesi's Ruang volcano erupted recently, spewing incandescent lava and prompting the evacuation of more than 12,000 people on a nearby island.

With inputs from WAM