The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation reported that a volcano on Halmahera Island in eastern Indonesia erupted on Saturday, releasing a cloud of ash rising five kilometers. The National Disaster Management Agency, part of the center, warned of potential sudden floods and cold lava flows. The Mount Ibu eruption occurred at 11:03 AM local time (02:03 GMT) following a series of eruption episodes in May, after authorities observed an increase in volcanic activity starting in April, which led to the evacuation of seven nearby villages.
The center stated that "a dense gray ash column was ejected, inclined toward the southwest," adding that residents and tourists should maintain a distance of at least seven kilometers from the active volcano's crater. Footage released by the center showed the volcano spewing ash that became more dense and eventually dispersed. The Disaster Management Agency alerted local authorities to be on the lookout for secondary disasters such as sudden floods and cold lava flows. An analysis by the national meteorological agency indicated that the area has the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall, without specifying a timeline for this.
