Mount Ibu, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday, January 11, sending hot lava and a thick column of ash and smoke four kilometers into the sky.
The eruption occurred at 7:45 p.m. local time on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province. Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia’s Geological Agency, confirmed the event, saying, “The lava was spotted two kilometers away from the eruption center.”
Images from the volcano monitoring post revealed a bright red column of flame and dark smoke rising high above the crater.
Authorities have maintained the volcano’s status at the second-highest alert level. Although no new evacuation orders have been issued, visitors and residents have been warned to stay 4 to 5.5 kilometers away from the peak.
The agency also advised people to wear face masks and protective goggles to guard against potential volcanic ash rain.
Halmahera Island, home to over 700,000 people as of 2022, lies in Indonesia’s seismic hot zone along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Mount Ibu erupted more than 2,000 times last year, making it one of the country’s most active volcanoes. Similar eruptions occurred last year at Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate nearby islands.
Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic and seismic activity due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries.
