MANADO, Indonesia (AP) — More people living near an erupting volcano on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi were evacuated Friday because of the dangers of ash spreading, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami.
An international airport in the city of Manado, which is less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the erupting Mount Ruang, is still temporarily closed after volcanic ash was spewed into the air.
Satellite images from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency show that the ash has spread to the west, northwest, northeast and southeast, spanning Manado and North Minahasa, according to a statement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Transport.
“We are still monitoring developments surrounding the Mount Ruang eruption and coordinating with relevant stakeholders… to anticipate necessary actions to ensure flight safety, security and comfort,” said Ambar Suryoko, head of the regional airport authority.
More than 11,000 people were told to leave their homes and at least 1,000 did so. A joint team of local authorities is still combing the villages around the volcano and evacuating residents by boat to safer areas.
Officials worry that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and trigger a tsunami, as happened during an eruption there in 1871.
Houses, roads and other buildings in the affected areas were covered in gray volcanic ash. Many house roofs were also destroyed by the materials released during the eruption.
Mount Ruang saw at least five major eruptions on Wednesday, prompting the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Management to issue the highest alert level. People were ordered to stay at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the 725-meter-high mountain.
The agency’s observation on Friday said white smoke of medium to thick intensity was rising from the main crater.
Tagulandang Island, east of the volcano, could be at risk if a collapse were to occur. The residents were among those told to evacuate. Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said residents will be moved to Manado, a six-hour journey by boat.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million inhabitants, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it lies along the ‘Ring of Fire’, a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.
