A volcano erupted on the remote island of Halmahera in eastern Indonesia, spewing a towering column of smoke and ash into the atmosphere. This recent eruption of Mount Ibu on Wednesday marked the fifth eruption this year, raising concerns among local authorities and residents. The eruption sent a column of smoke 4 kilometers into the sky, prompting the Indonesian Geological Agency to escalate the alert status to the highest level. Approximately 3,000 residents from nearby villages were slated for evacuation later in the evening to ensure their safety.
Mount Ibu, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, has shown a significant increase in volcanic activity since last June, following a series of earthquakes. The island of Halmahera, home to around 700,000 people as of 2022, lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region notorious for its frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The latest eruption was accompanied by earthquakes, further elevating concerns about potential hazards.
Local disaster management head Wawan Gunawan Ali emphasized the urgency of evacuations in response to the heightened alert level.
"Following the increase in Mount Ibu's (alert) level, today we will evacuate residents in five villages." – Wawan Gunawan Ali
To mitigate risks, authorities have advised residents and tourists to steer clear of a 5-6 kilometer exclusion zone surrounding Mount Ibu's peak. Residents were also urged to wear face masks to protect themselves from falling ash that could pose respiratory health risks.
In January alone, Mount Ibu erupted four times, underscoring its volatile nature and the challenges faced by those living in its vicinity. The escalation and frequency of eruptions have compelled local authorities to implement stringent safety measures and evacuation plans regularly.
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