JAKARTA: After recording six eruptions over the weekend, Indonesia’s volcanology agency raised the alert level of the Ibu volcano to the highest level on its scale on Thursday ( May 16 ).
The mountain, which is situated on the secluded island of Halhamera, is also a warning to local residents.
Ibu has erupted constantly since May 11 after exercise grew in April, the organization said, spewing heavy columns of gray ash several kilometers into the sky.
Residents who live within a 4km diameter of the hills were advised to stay away from the mountain and to wear masks and goggles if there was an ashpour.
Indonesia’s hazard reduction agency did not respond to a request for comment on any departure plans right away.
Ibu’s activities follow a series of eruptions of different volcanoes in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific” Ring of Fire” and has 127 active volcanoes.
Following heavy rain on May 11, which left at least 67 people dead, with 20 more lost, as a result of flash floods and cool lava flows from Mount Marapi, one of the most energetic in West Sumatra state.
In recent days North Sulawesi’s Ruang volcano has erupted, spewing light magma. Authorities had to leave more than 12 000 people from a nearby island as a result of the volcano.