Mount Ibu on highest alert


Brought to safety: Evacuees rushing to leave Sangaji Nyeku Village following the eruption of Mount Ibu in West Halmahera, North Maluku province. — AFP

Hundreds of islanders have been evacuated, with thousands more awaiting their turn following increased volcanic eruptions in eastern Indonesia, officials said.Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted on Wednesday, sending a column of smoke up to 4km into the sky.

The volcano’s alert status was immediately raised to the highest level by the country’s Geological Agency, prompting local authorities to call for the evacuation of 3,000 people living nearby.

As of yesterday morning, 517 residents from the village closest to the volcano had been evacuated, with the remaining residents scheduled to be moved later in the afternoon.

“The evacuation shelters have been prepared by the local administration, and today, a thorough evacuation will be conducted for all residents in six villages,” said a spokesman of local disaster management agency, Irfan Idrus.

He added that evacuations began on Wednesday at 6pm but were delayed due to administrative and logistical issues.

Rainfall since yesterday morning had further hampered the process, he said.

According to an AFP reporter, residents were still carrying out their daily activities in their respective villages as trucks prepared for evacuation.

“There is some fear and concern, but we are already used to the eruptions here,” 32-year-old resident Rista Tuyu said.

“In a week, eruptions could happen three to four times, but the biggest ones occurred this week.”

She added that she hoped the volcano would calm down soon so that the village community could resume their daily lives.

Mount Ibu has shown a significant increase in volcanic activity since last June, following a series of earthquakes.

In the first weeks of January alone, the volcano, which is one of Indonesia’s most active, erupted nine times.

Residents living near Mount Ibu and tourists have been advised to avoid a 5km to 6km exclusion zone around the volcano’s peak and to wear face masks in case of falling ash.

As of 2022, around 700,000 people were living on Halmahera island, according to official data. — AFP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Aseanplus News

‘0.5m away from movie star’: Actress Yan Yinan meets actor Tony Leung in Japan
Journey’s end for an icon
Court jails man for life over rape, killing of Irish woman
Kim makes rare visit to father’s tomb, says devoted to ‘sacred struggle’
Opposition MP fined for lying
Jeju Air CEO undergoes police questioning over deadly plane crash
Malaysia showcases cuisine and culture as week-long festival begins in New Delhi
Schools to operate as usual during Ramadan, says govt
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Feb 17, 2025)
Malaysia to Host Inaugural Summit of Asean, China, Gulf Bloc

Others Also Read