30-4-2024 (JAKARTA) The Ruang volcano, situated off the coast of Sulawesi, unleashed a tumultuous eruption on Tuesday, emitting billowing clouds of ash and streams of molten lava. This eruption comes hot on the heels of a recent spate of volcanic activity earlier this month, prompting the evacuation of hundreds and the closure of local airports.
Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) swiftly escalated the alert level to its maximum in the wake of the morning eruption. Urging residents to steer clear of the volatile area, the PVMBG issued a stern warning via its official website.
Ruang Island, nestled within the province of North Sulawesi, shelters a populace of over 800 individuals, a majority of whom were evacuated in the aftermath of the prior eruption. The exact tally of evacuees in response to Tuesday’s eruption remains undisclosed at this time.
Gunung Ruang pagi ini, 30 April 2024 pic.twitter.com/wyEX31Z8Pj
— Beautiful Tomohon (@NewsTomohon) April 30, 2024
Efforts to elicit a response from the country’s disaster mitigation agency regarding the unfolding situation yielded no immediate results.
While footage circulating on social media captured the dramatic scene of molten lava cascading down the volcano, Reuters could not authenticate the content at the time of reporting. Ruang volcano stands approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) distant from Manado, the bustling provincial capital.
In the aftermath of the earlier eruption this month, authorities were compelled to temporarily shutter Manado’s airport as a precautionary measure. The eruption’s fallout, in the form of plummeting rocks and ash, inflicted damage upon residences and necessitated the evacuation of a nearby medical facility.
Last week, authorities opted to downgrade the volcano’s status to level 3. However, Tuesday’s eruption prompted an abrupt elevation back to level 4, signifying heightened concern over the potential risks posed to local communities.
