Indonesian officials issued a tsunami alert after Ruang mountain erupted, sending ash soaring thousands of feet into the sky. Over 11,000 people were told to evacuate. The volcano, situated on Sulawesi's northern side, had at least five major eruptions in the past day, prompting authorities to elevate the alert level to its maximum.
At least 800 residents left the area earlier Wednesday.Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.Authorities urged tourists and others to stay at least 6 km (3.7 miles) from the 725-metre (2,378 foot) Ruang volcano.Officials worry that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami as in a 1871 eruption there.
Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi island, a journey of six hours by boat.In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java after parts of the mountain fell into the ocean, killing 430 people.