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Mount Ruang volcano spews volcanic ash as seen from Tagulandang in Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 19, 2024. Photo credit: REUTERS/Chermanto Tjaombah
The Ruang volcano in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, erupted again on April 30, 2024, spewing ash and lava up to 19,000 meters high. This latest eruption follows an earlier one earlier this month that damaged homes and closed Manado airport, prompting hundreds of evacuations from the island of Ruang, home to over 800 residents.
Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the alert level to the highest, urging residents to stay at least 6 kilometers away from the 725-meter volcano. Falling rocks and ash damaged a nearby hospital, forcing it to evacuate.
More than 11,000 people have been told to leave their homes in the affected areas now covered in gray volcanic ash, and at least 1,000 have done so. Authorities had previously downgraded the status level last week before raising it back to the highest level on April 30.
Why this matters: Indonesia is located in the seismically active 'Pacific Ring of Fire,' an area prone to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Major volcanic events in this region can have significant impacts on local populations and disrupt air travel across the Asia-Pacific.
Officials are also concerned that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and trigger a tsunami. The Japanese Meteorological Agency reported the eruption occurred around 4 AM Japan time on April 30, and any resulting tsunami waves could have reached Japan's Okinawa prefecture around 6 AM. However, as of 6:40 AM, there were no unexpected tide level readings at domestic or international observatories, and the agency said there were no tsunami waves that would impact the Japanese archipelago.
Key Takeaways
- Ruang volcano in Indonesia erupted again on April 30, 2024, spewing ash and lava.
- Alert level raised to highest, prompting evacuation of more than 11,000 people from affected areas.
- Eruption damaged homes, closed Manado airport, and forced a nearby hospital to evacuate.
- Indonesia located in seismically active 'Pacific Ring of Fire,' prone to volcanic eruptions.
- Concerns about potential tsunami from possible volcano collapse, but no impact detected in Japan