2-5-2024 (JAKARTA) On May 1, dramatic scenes unfolded at the port of Tagulandang island in Indonesia as hundreds of residents awaited evacuation amidst the ongoing eruption of the Ruang volcano. Footage from the National Search and Rescue Agency captured the urgency of the situation, with grey smoke billowing from the volcanic summit.
The eruption of Indonesia’s Ruang volcano commenced on April 30, releasing lava and prompting authorities to initiate the evacuation of over 12,000 individuals from the nearby Tagulandang island. Concerns escalated further when the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation elevated Ruang’s alert status to the highest level, cautioning residents of Tagulandang about the potential for a volcanic-triggered tsunami.
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In response, the National Search and Rescue Agency issued a statement on May 1, detailing ongoing evacuation efforts. “Personnel from the Manado Search and Rescue Agency are facilitating the evacuation of 109 Tagulandang residents to the Munte port, while hundreds await evacuation at the Minanga port,” the agency announced. The displaced residents are being relocated to the North Minahasa Regency on Sulawesi island.
The aviation sector also felt the impact of the eruption, with Manado’s Sam Ratulangi airport extending its closure until noon on May 2. AirAsia, a prominent carrier, revealed in a May 1 Instagram post that flights to and from various cities in Malaysia’s Borneo were affected by the volcanic activity.
Situated approximately 100km from Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, Ruang island’s eruption underscores the geographical reality of Indonesia. The nation lies within the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area known for its heightened seismic activity owing to the convergence of multiple tectonic plates.
