Mt Ruang eruption damages thousands of houses in North Sulawesi

Part of a village on Tagulandang island covered by ash from eruptions of Mt Ruang in the Sulawesi island, Indonesia. - AP

JAKARTA: At least 3,614 houses were damaged by the eruption of Mt Ruang in the Sitaro Islands in North Sulawesi province last week, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Its spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the number of evacuees from two villages on the island had decreased to 3,582 people from the previous 6,045 people on Monday (April 22).

"About 834 residents cannot return because their homes around Mt Ruang were severely damaged, and those in Tagulandang remain in the evacuation zone," he said in a statement.

Local authorities urged residents and tourists near the area to remain cautious and avoid the four-kilometre radius from the active crater.

On Monday, the volcano’s status was lowered to Level III from Level IV by the country’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

Deputy of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for BNPB, Jarwansyah, who has been at the affected site since April 18, confirmed that no casualties have been reported.

Operations at Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, located approximately 95km from Mt Ruang, were disrupted starting last Thursday before resuming on Monday. - Bernama