Mount Ruang’s Latest Eruption Disrupts Flights and Triggers Evacuations in Indonesia

Mount Ruang, located in Indonesia’s remote North Sulawesi province, erupted multiple times early Tuesday, compelling authorities to raise the alert level to its highest and enforce evacuations. The volcanic activity, which began around 01:15 am local time (1715 GMT Monday), led to the closure of the nearby Sam Ratulangi International Airport due to the volcanic ash cloud that soared more than five kilometers (3.1 miles) into the sky.

The Indonesian volcanology agency has re-established a six-kilometer (3.7-mile) exclusion zone around the volcano and warned of potential dangers including incandescent rock ejections, hot clouds, and tsunamis triggered by eruption debris entering the sea. Compelling visuals released by the agency captured a molten red column of lava bursting into the sky and a substantial ash cloud emerging from the crater.

Over 800 residents who live on Mount Ruang were evacuated earlier in the month after more than half a dozen eruptions. Although some had returned following the downgrade of the emergency response status, they were once again forced to leave their homes due to the renewed volcanic activity.

The disruption extended to air travel, with the closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport located over 100 kilometers from the volcano. AirNav Indonesia, the state-run air traffic control provider, issued a notice about the airport shutdown citing the spread of volcanic ash as the reason.

This event is part of a series of eruptions from Mount Ruang this month, reflecting Indonesia’s frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The country’s position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” makes it one of the most geologically active regions in the world.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, france24.com