Mount Ibu erupts: Indonesia braces as thousands evacuate
Authorities have declared the highest alert level on the island of Halmahera in Indonesia. Several villages have been evacuated, affecting approximately 3,000 people. The stratovolcano Mount Ibu has reawakened.
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 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 - fearing that in addition to volcanic ash clouds, 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 Program reported that tourists and residents were advised to stay at least five kilometres away from the active crater and six 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 part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most volcanically active region in the world. Although all volcanoes in this area are active, Mount Ibu is among 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 the time. Meanwhile, in 2009, an orange volcanic alert was announced, indicating Mount Ibu’s continuous activity and, thus, constant threat.
