Indonesia’s Mount Ibu erupts, spews hot lava and smoke

AFP | Jakarta
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A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Saturday, sending hot lava and a column of smoke and ash four kilometers (3.1 miles) into the air, according to an official.

Mount Ibu, located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku Province, erupted at 7:45 PM Central Indonesia Time (11:45 GMT), producing a tall, flaming column that soared into the sky.

"The lava was spotted two kilometers away from the eruption center," said Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geological Agency, in a statement.

Images from the volcano monitoring post showed a bright red column of flame and thick, dark smoke billowing high above the crater.

The volcano remains at the second-highest alert level.

There has been no new evacuation order, but visitors and villagers have been advised to vacate a zone four to 5.5 kilometers from the peak.

The agency also urged people to wear face masks and protective goggles in case of volcanic ash rain.

Ibu is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, having erupted more than 2,000 times last year.

As of 2022, more than 700,000 people lived on Halmahera Island, according to official figures.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."

Last year, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi Province erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing thousands of residents from nearby islands to evacuate.