Mount Ibu Volcano Erupts in Indonesia, Triggering Evacuation Warnings

On Saturday, a volcano in Indonesia’s Halmahera island erupted, spewing a massive 5-kilometer-high ash cloud, Reuters reported.

The eruption of Mount Ibu, which began at 11:03 am local time, came after a series of eruptions in May following increased volcanic activity since April.

Indonesia’s volcanology agency warned residents and tourists to maintain a safe distance of at least 7 kilometers from the active crater.

The country’s disaster management agency also cautioned local authorities to prepare for potential secondary disasters, such as flash floods and cold lava flows, due to the eruption.

Mount Ibu has been on the highest alert level since May 16. This eruption is the latest in a series of volcanic activities across Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 127 active volcanoes.