Mount Ibu erupts: Indonesia on high alert, mass evacuations underway
Authorities have declared the highest alert level on the island of Halmahera in Indonesia. Approximately 3,000 people have been evacuated from several villages. The stratovolcano Mount Ibu has become active again.
Mount Ibu is an active stratovolcano, and this year, over 1,000 of its smaller and larger eruptions have been recorded. During the last eruption, ash from the volcano’s crater rose to about 1,500 metres. Authorities have declared the highest alert status, which will remain in effect for two weeks.
The residents of the nearest villages have been evacuated, although only 700 out of the 3,000 people agreed to leave their homes. Many residents do not want to leave their homes and farmland, where the harvest is underway.
However, the authorities intend to persuade residents to leave the dangerous zone - they fear that in addition to clouds of volcanic ash, the volcano may start ejecting rocks, and lava might begin to flow from its crater.
The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Global Volcanism advised Tourists and residents to stay at least five kilometres away from the active crater and seven kilometres from the vent in its wall.
One of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia
Mount Ibu is one of 127 volcanoes in Indonesia, which is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most volcanically active region in the world. All volcanoes in this area are active, but Mount Ibu is one of the most active.
In 2023, aviation warnings were issued due to ash ejection reaching up to 3,000 metres. Travelling in that region was difficult at that time. Meanwhile, in 2009, an orange volcanic alert was announced, indicating Mount Ibu’s continuous activity and, thus, constant threat.
