Volcanic Eruptions In Indonesia Trigger Tsunami Alert; More Than 11,000 People To Be Evacuated From The Area

Indonesia has experienced five major volcanic eruptions in the last 24 hours. According to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology, Mount Ruang’s volcano erupted several times on April 17 and it caused the local authorities to evacuate 800 people immediately. These volcanic eruptions sent ash and lava thousands of feet in the sky and it has triggered a tsunami alert in the region. The authorities have now asked 11,000 people to evacuate the area around these volcanoes.

Several Volcanic Eruptions Trigger Tsunami Alert In Indonesia

Volcanoes on Indonesia’s Mount Ruang erupted several times on April 17. This mountain is located in Indonesia’s outermost region and spewed lava and a column of smoke more than a mile into the sky. The local authorities also triggered a tsunami alert in the area and asked thousands of people to evacuate the Ruang region.

The first eruption occurred on Tuesday around 9:45 PM local time. Then four more eruptions occurred throughout Wednesday. The tourists in the area were then warned to stay at least 6 kilometres away from the 725-metre Ruang volcano. Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology raised the volcano alert to its highest level and had already evacuated 800 people early on Wednesday.

Indonesia is home to 120 active volcanoes. It is highly prone to volcanic activity as it sits along the ‘Ring of Fire.’ This is a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean that can cause volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, as per Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology, these eruptions can also be blamed on the two recent earthquakes in the area that caused instability in the tectonic plates.

Also Read: This 700-Year-Old Ganesha Idol Sits At The Mouth Of An Active Volcano In Indonesia. Been There?

11,000 People Told To Evacuate; Air Travel Disrupted In The Region

Thankfully, there are no deaths or injuries reported in these areas yet. And to avoid any such cases, the local authorities have completely evacuated two villages on Ruang Island. In fact, they have also asked more than 11,000 people in the nearby area to evacuate the region. As per Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi Island. These people will have to take a six-hour boat journey to reach Manado.

The authorities have also shut down the Sam Ratulangi International Airport after the multiple eruptions in Mount Ruang on Thursday. This has disrupted many flights from China, Singapore, and South Korea in the region. According to the Aviation authorities, this step has been taken “due to the spread of volcanic ash which could endanger flight safety.”

We hope that the authorities can safely evacuate the people from this area and the situation comes under control soon. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments section.

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