Tsunami Alert Issued in Indonesia as Ruang Volcano Erupts, Thousands Evacuated

Indonesian authorities have raised a tsunami alert following the eruptions at Ruang mountain, which have sent ash thousands of feet high. More than 11,000 people have been ordered to evacuate the area.

The volcano, located on the northern side of Sulawesi island, has experienced at least five large eruptions in the past 24 hours, according to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation. Consequently, the authorities have elevated the volcano alert to its highest level.

Volcanic Activity in Indonesia

Indonesia, an archipelago with a population of 270 million people, is home to 120 active volcanoes. The country is susceptible to volcanic activity due to its location along the “Ring of Fire,” a series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

At least 800 residents had already left the area earlier on Wednesday, April 17, and officials are advising all tourists and individuals to maintain a distance of at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the 725-meter (2,378 foot) Ruang volcano. There are concerns that a portion of the volcano could collapse into the sea, potentially triggering a tsunami, akin to the 1871 eruption.

Tagulandang island, situated northeast of the volcano, is once again at risk, prompting the evacuation of its residents. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency of Indonesia has announced that the residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city on Sulawesi island, requiring a six-hour boat journey.

The alert is a reminder of the 2018 eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano, which resulted in a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, claiming 430 lives after parts of the mountain collapsed into the ocean.