Mount Ibu Erupts Repeatedly in Indonesia, Prompting Evacuations

Mount Ibu, a volcano located in Indonesia’s North Maluku province, erupted three times on Thursday, spewing red lava and thick ash clouds, the Associate Press reported yesterday.

According to the news agency, the eruptions sent ash up to 1,200 meters into the air.

Authorities have raised the alert to the highest level, as the volcano has been erupting almost daily since early May. Over 1,900 people have been evacuated from villages near the 1,325-meter-high mountain. Thousands of hectares of farmland have also been affected by the eruptions.

Indonesia, situated along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” is home to 120 active volcanoes. The country’s government has urged people to stay at least 7 kilometers away from Mount Ibu as the volcanic activity continues.