Mount Ibu: Eruption of volcano on Indonesian island prompts evacuation of seven villages

The volcano on the remote Indonesian island of Halmahera, Mount Ibu has spectacularly erupted yet again and has since been spewing a grey ash cloud into the sky. The eruption, on Saturday evening, prompted the evacuation of seven nearby villages, said the local authorities on Sunday (May 19).

What happened?

Mount Ibu erupted on Saturday (May 18) evening sending ash four kilometres high as streaks of purple lightning flashed around its crater, reported Reuters citing information and images shared by Indonesia’s volcanology agency.

The eruption came after Indonesian authorities, on Thursday (May 16) raised the alert level for Mount Ibu to the highest level following a series of eruptions since last week.

A joint team comprising police, military and search and rescue officials was dispatched to the area to evacuate residents from surrounding villages, reported the news agency citing a statement by Abdul Muhari, from the disaster mitigation agency.

The disaster agency did not provide any information about how many people have been evacuated but said that a seven-kilometre radius would be cleared.

Images shared by the disaster agency, as per Reuters shows authorities assisting the elderly, while other residents were moved in pick-up trucks and accommodated in emergency tents for the night.

Hundreds evacuated

A report by the news agency AFP citing an official, on Friday (May 17) said hundreds of people living near an erupting volcano were evacuated after authorities raised its alert status to the highest level.

The alert status for Mount Ibu was raised to the highest on the country’s four-tiered system on Thursday after recording two huge eruptions for the second day in a row.

“Until today (May 17), the evacuees continue to arrive and as of this morning, the preliminary data that we have is around 400 people (evacuated),” disaster mitigation agency official Muhammad Ade Fabanyo told AFP.

He said the evacuation was a “preventive” measure taken by authorities since the residents were living around seven kilometres from the volcano.

Mount Ibu activities follow a series of eruptions of different volcanoes across Indonesia. The country sits on the “Ring of Fire” and is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes.

(With inputs from agencies)