Indonesia is on high alert in case the distant volcano erupts again

Authorities in Indonesia were on high alert on Friday in case the isolated island volcano that prompted hundreds of people to flee this week erupted again. Neighbors in the area started cleaning up the wreckage after molten boulders poured down on their towns.

Beginning late Tuesday, Mount Ruang erupted almost six times in a 24-hour period, causing a stunning display of volcanic lightning, a towering column of ash, and hot orange lava.

Authorities maintained the highest warning level in a four-tiered system, which denotes intense volcanic activity, even though they reported Ruang had begun to slow down on Friday.

An AFP journalist said that hundreds of residents on the nearby island of Tagulandang were seen on Friday morning clearing volcanic debris from the harbor and their yards with the assistance of troops and police officials.

A few recounted their fear and haste to safety as soon as the eruption started.

“I left. A home was present. I remained there. And then there was rain and rockfall. I begged God for compassion, please assist me, God,” 59-year-old teacher Ninice Hoata said to AFP on Tagulandang.

According to Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), white smoke of “medium to high intensity” was seen rising up to 100 meters (328 feet) above the crater.

More help was begged for by other neighbors.

Herman Sahoa, a 64-year-old resident of Tagulandang, said, “We really need tarpaulin assistance as soon as possible, to temporarily cover the leaking roof.”

“We are worried there will be a follow-up because there is information about that.”

Numerous thousands were rescued.

The journalist said that areas of the island had no power and that deserted buildings could be spotted elsewhere.

On Thursday, authorities reported that there was a communication outage in some areas of Ruang and Tagulandang island, which is home to over 20,000 people.

According to Joikson Sagunde, an official from the Sitaro islands disaster management organization, more than 6,000 people of Tagulandang had been evacuated to the other side of the island that faces away from the crater. This information was reported to AFP.

Authorities had said a day earlier that they intended to evacuate 11,000 residents in the exclusion zone.

According to Abdul, the closure of an international airport in Manado City, which is located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from the crater, has been prolonged until Friday evening.

A six-kilometer (3.7-mile) exclusion zone was maintained around the crater as part of the alert level, and there were also warnings about potential tsunamis from more eruptions and the volcano’s partial collapse into the sea.

A significant eruption in 2018 caused large portions of Mount Anak Krakatoa to fall into the ocean, partially collapsing the volcano’s crater and injuring many more. The tsunami that resulted from the eruption claimed over 400 lives.

Indonesia is a huge archipelago country that is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which causes regular earthquake and volcanic activity.