12,000 people evacuated in Indonesia

An anxious wait continues in the region after Mount Ruang, located on Ruang Island in northern Indonesia, spewed lava and ash yesterday. Due to the volcano's ongoing activity, an evacuation order has been issued for 12,000 people in the area as a precautionary measure.

Ruang Island, where the volcano is located, was completely evacuated following eruptions last month, and the 828 people living on the island were relocated to surrounding areas. The scale of the evacuation has increased due to the intensification of the eruptions in recent days. Authorities have decided to evacuate other islands around Ruang Island and the coasts of North Sulawesi province due to the risk of a tsunami.

In a statement made by the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), it was stated that at least three violent eruptions have occurred at the volcano since yesterday, and that ash clouds resulting from these eruptions have spread to a height of 5,000 meters and an area of 1,000 kilometers.

FLIGHTS HALTED AT AIRPORTS

While there have been significant disruptions in air traffic due to the ash spreading to the surrounding area as a result of the volcanic eruptions, flights at 7 airports in the region have been completely halted.

The ash spewed by the volcano is moving toward the neighboring country of Malaysia.

In 2018, a tsunami occurred in Indonesia as a result of the eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano, in which 426 people lost their lives and tens of thousands were injured.

News Source: İHA