Indonesian volcano eruption forces evacuations, airport closure

Hot lava flows from Mount Ruang volcano during an eruption in Sitaro, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 17, 2024. Antara Foto/HO/BPBD Kab Sitaro/via REUTERS

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia shut a provincial airport and evacuated hundreds of people from the vicinity of the Ruang volcano after it belched explosive plumes of lava, rocks and ash for days, officials said on Thursday, declaring the highest alert on the situation.

Wednesday's dramatic eruption of the volcano on a remote island in the province of North Sulawesi threw a fiery-red column of lava, incandescent rock and ash as much as three km (two miles) into the sky.