Indonesian rescuers were in a race against time on Thursday to evacuate thousands of individuals after a volcano erupted repeatedly, leading to the closure of a nearby airport and issuance of a tsunami warning due to falling debris.
Mount Ruang’s crater was aglow with lava amidst lightning flashes overnight, erupting four times on Wednesday, which prompted authorities to elevate the alert status to the highest level in the four-tiered system.
The volcano, situated in Indonesia’s outer region, continued to release a plume of smoke on Thursday morning, resulting in the temporary closure of the closest international airport in Manado City on Sulawesi Island for 24 hours.
Officials worked hastily to evacuate 11,000 residents from the vicinity, including the remote island of Tagulandang, inhabited by approximately 20,000 people.
According to officials, some residents were already attempting to flee in a state of panic.
“Last night, people evacuated without direction following the volcano’s eruption and the falling of small rocks, causing them to search for evacuation routes,” mentioned Jandry Paendong, an official from the local search and rescue agency, in a statement on Thursday.
He stated that 20 personnel were assisting in evacuating residents along the coastline near the volcano using rubber boats.
Additional boats and equipment were requested to enable the team to effectively conduct evacuations for those living near the coast facing the volcano.
Tourists and residents were cautioned to stay outside a six-kilometre exclusion zone.
Following the initial eruption on Tuesday evening, more than 800 individuals were promptly relocated to safety from Ruang to the nearby Tagulandang island before four subsequent eruptions on Wednesday.
Authorities also raised concerns about the possibility of a tsunami triggered by the volcanic activities.
“Residents on Tagulandang island, particularly those near the beach, should remain vigilant for potential ejection of hot rocks, discharge of hot clouds, and a tsunami resulting from the volcano’s collapse into the sea,” remarked Hendra Gunawan, the head of Indonesia’s volcanology agency, in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Past experiences added to the authorities’ apprehension.
In 2018, the crater of Mount Anak Krakatoa, positioned between Java and Sumatra islands, partially collapsed during a major eruption, leading to significant portions of the volcano sliding into the ocean and triggering a tsunami that claimed over 400 lives and left thousands injured.
Indonesia, an extensive archipelago, frequently encounters seismic and volcanic events due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area where tectonic plates converge, spanning from Japan across Southeast Asia and over the Pacific basin.
The repercussions of Mount Ruang’s eruption resulted in the 24-hour closure of the Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado City, located more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from the volcano.
The airport runways were shut down owing to the dispersion of volcanic ash, posing a hazard to flight safety, as stated by Ambar Suryoko, head of the Manado region airport authority office.
The airport accommodates airlines flying to destinations such as Singapore, as well as cities in South Korea and China.
“All flights were impacted due to the airport’s closure caused by the eruption of Mount Ruang and the presence of volcanic ash,” said Dimas, a 29-year-old airport officer in Manado, in a phone conversation with AFP.
AFP