Mount Ibu, situated on Indonesia’s eastern Halmahera Island, erupted on Saturday, with ash reaching five kilometers high. The eruption, recorded at 11:03 a.m. local time, follows increased volcanic activity since April, leading to village evacuations in May.
“The ash column is grey with thick intensity and leaning towards the southwest,” stated the PVMBG, urging residents and tourists to maintain a distance of at least seven kilometers (about 4.3 miles) from the active crater. Video footage shared by the agency captured the volcano spewing ash, which grew denser before eventually dissipating
Indonesia’s disaster management agency, BNPB, alerted local authorities to brace for secondary disasters. The region anticipates moderate to heavy rainfall, though timing remains unspecified.
“If there is a buildup of material left over from the eruption, it should be cleaned up immediately because it is dangerous. If there is heavy rain, flash floods could occur, cause damage and many fatalities,” said Suharyanto, the BNPB chief, in a statement on Friday.
Mount Ibu has been on PVMBG’s highest alert level since May 16. This recent activity follows a series of eruptions from other volcanoes across Indonesia, a country situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and home to 127 active volcanoes. Flash floods and cold lava flow from Mount Marapi, one of the most active volcanoes in West Sumatra province, claimed at least 67 lives with 20 people still missing following torrential rain on May 11.
As Mount Ibu continues to exhibit volcanic activity, ongoing communication and coordination among stakeholders remain crucial in safeguarding lives and minimizing the impact of the eruption.
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