Mount Ruang Eruption: Evacuations and Airport Closure in Indonesia

Indonesia took swift action in response to the fiery tantrum of Mount Ruang, a volcanic show that lit up the sky with bursts of lava, rocks, and ash, prompting the closure of a local airport and the evacuation of hundreds from the area.

The eruption, which occurred on a remote island in North Sulawesi province, shot a fiery-red column of lava and ash as high as three kilometers into the sky. Videos circulating on social media captured the dramatic scene, including flashes of purple lightning ripping through the sky above the volcano.

Witnesses described the frantic scene as they scrambled to escape the advancing ash. "We're running, guys," one person exclaimed while filming the eruption. "We are escaping because the ash is coming close."

Authorities sprang into action, evacuating more than 800 people from the immediate vicinity. The evacuation zone was expanded as the volcanology agency raised the alert status, citing a rapid escalation in volcanic activity. "The potential for further eruption is still high, so we need to remain alert," said Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, an official from the agency.

Reports came in of falling rocks and ash damaging homes, even forcing a nearby hospital to evacuate. To ensure the safety of air travel, authorities shut down the airport in Manado, the provincial capital. Budget airline Air Asia also canceled flights to nine airports in East Malaysia and Brunei due to safety concerns from the volcanic ash.

An exclusion zone of six kilometers (four miles) around the volcano was established, with officials evacuating residents, including some from the neighboring island of Tagulandang. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the disaster mitigation agency, stated that about 1,500 individuals in high-risk areas needed immediate evacuation, while nearly 12,000 more could be affected.

Worries heightened as officials raised concerns about the potential for a tsunami if parts of the mountain were to collapse into the ocean below. This threat harkens back to the deadly eruption of 1871, which triggered a tsunami claiming about 400 lives.