JAKARTA: A volcano in Indonesia’s eastern island of Halmahera erupted on Saturday sending a five-kilometer-high ash cloud, according to the country’s volcanology agency (PVMBG), while its disaster agency warned of flash floods and cold lava flow.
The eruption of Mount Ibu occurred at 11:03 a.m. (0203 GMT) after a series of eruptions in May prompted the evacuation of seven nearby villages due to increased volcanic activity starting in April.
“The ash column is grey with thick intensity and leaning toward the southwest,” the agency reported, advising residents and tourists to maintain a distance of at least 7 km from the active crater. Footage from the agency showed the volcano emitting ash that thickened before eventually dispersing.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency BNPB instructed local authorities to prepare for flash floods and cold lava flows.
“If there is a buildup of material from the eruption, it should be cleared immediately because it is dangerous. Heavy rain could trigger flash floods, causing damage and fatalities,” BNPB chief Suharyanto said in a statement.
Mount Ibu is on PVMBG’s highest alert level since May 16. The recent activity follows a series of eruptions from other volcanoes in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 127 active volcanoes. On May 11, flash floods and cold lava flows from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province, one of the most active volcanoes, covered several nearby districts after torrential rain, killing at least 67 people with 20 still missing.
