Indonesia’s Mount Ibu erupts once more, launching a massive ash tower

JAKARTA: Following a hike in alert level to the second-highest last week, a volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Monday, sending a massive ash tower more than five kilometres (three miles) into the sky.

Images from Halmahera island in North Maluku province showed a column of ash shooting into the sky, although no damage or injuries were immediately reported.

One of the largest eruptions in recent months, according to the authorities, reached more than five kilometres above the volcano’s top.

The Geology Agency’s head, Muhammad Wafid, said in a statement on Monday that the grey-black ash column was seen with “thick intensity, leaning towards the west.”

Wafid advised the locals to use goggles and a facemask when they walk outside to avoid falling volcanic ash.

On Saturday, a smaller-scale eruption of the volcano resulted in lightning, lava pouring, and ash blasting many kilometres into the night sky.

Following a rise last week, the warning level stayed at the second-highest of four levels on Monday, with an exclusion zone extending three to five kilometres (two to three miles) surrounding the volcano’s crater.

One of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, Ibu erupted over 21,000 times in the previous year.

According to Sofyan Primulyana, a Geology Agency officer, Ibu saw 58 eruptions on average every day in 2023.

Indonesia is a huge archipelago nation that is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which causes regular earthquake and volcanic activity.

More than six eruptions of Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province last month forced thousands of people living on neighbouring islands to flee, and the volcano is still at the highest warning level.

Almost all of Ruang Island’s 800 population will be moved permanently. – AFP