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Mount Ibu erupts, spews hot lava and smoke

The volcano is currently still on the second highest alert level. 

AFP
Jakarta
Sun, January 12, 2025

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Mount Ibu erupts, spews hot lava and smoke Mount Ibu spews volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption on Jan. 11, 2025 as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku in this photo released by the Geological Agency. (AFP/Handout/Indonesian Geological Agency)

M

ount Ibu in North Maluku erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers, an official said.

The volcano, located on Halmahera Island, erupted at 7:45 p.m. eastern Indonesia time, sending a tall flaming column soaring into the sky.

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

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

The volcano is currently still on the second highest alert level. 

There has been no new evacuation order, but visitors and villagers have been told 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.

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

More than 700,000 people lived on Halmahera island as of 2022, according to official figures. 

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position 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 of nearby islands to evacuate.

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