2LT International News

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia faced a mounting crisis as the Ruang volcano unleashed explosive eruptions, prompting authorities to take swift action.

The volcanic activity began days ago and intensified dramatically on April 17, casting fiery red plumes of lava, rocks, and ash up to three kilometers into the sky.

In response, authorities evacuated over 800 people from the surrounding area and expanded the evacuation zone following the volcano’s heightened alert status. Witnesses captured dramatic scenes of the eruption, with videos showing purple lightning flashes illuminating the sky above the erupting volcano.

“The potential for further eruption is still high, so we need to remain alert,” agency official Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari told reporters, blaming a rapid escalation in volcanic activity.

Transport authorities closed the airport in Manado, the provincial capital, as a precaution against the ash showers. The closure affected air travel, leading budget airline Air Asia to cancel flights to nine airports in East Malaysia and Brunei due to safety concerns.

With the potential for further eruptions still looming, officials have cordoned off a six-kilometer area around the volcano and continue to evacuate residents from high-risk zones, including those on neighboring islands. Approximately 1,500 individuals in immediate danger require urgent evacuation, while nearly 12,000 more could be affected by the ongoing volcanic activity.

Additionally, concerns have been raised about the possibility of a tsunami triggered by the mountain’s potential collapse into the ocean. The volcano’s history is a grim reminder, with a previous eruption in 1871 resulting in a tsunami that claimed approximately 400 lives.