Volcanic ash reaches Malaysia

Kinetic disaster: Mount Ruang volcano seen during the eruption from Tagulandang island. — Reuters/AP

Eruptions at a remote volcano forced more than half a dozen airports to close with ash spreading as far as Malaysia, officials said, while authorities rushed to evacuate thousands due to tsunami fears.

Mount Ruang erupted three times on Tuesday, spewing lava and ash more than 5km into the sky and forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders for 12,000 locals.