Thousands of residents are being evacuated after Mount Ibu, a volcano on the remote island of Halmahera in eastern Indonesia, erupted on Wednesday.

The eruption sent a towering column of smoke and ash 4 kilometers into the sky, prompting heightened alert measures.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency raised Mount Ibu’s alert status to the highest level following the eruption, which marks the volcano’s fifth this year. Wawan Gunawan Ali, head of local disaster management, announced plans to evacuate approximately 3,000 residents from five nearby villages by Wednesday evening.

“Following the increase in Mount Ibu’s (alert) level, today we will evacuate residents in five villages,” Ali stated. Many residents have already gathered in a village hall awaiting evacuation, according to reports from AFP on the ground.

Mount Ibu has been showing heightened volcanic activity since June last year, with a series of earthquakes leading to increased eruptions. In the first two weeks of January alone, the volcano erupted four times, solidifying its status as one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes.

Authorities have advised residents and tourists to avoid a 5 to 6-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s peak. Face masks have been recommended to protect against falling ash.

Halmahera island, home to around 700,000 people as of 2022, is bracing for the potential impact of continued eruptions.

Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Mount Ibu’s eruption follows last November’s deadly eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the tourist island of Flores, which killed nine people. Additionally, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted multiple times last year, forcing thousands to evacuate nearby islands.

As evacuations continue, authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring Mount Ibu’s activity. Residents are urged to stay informed and adhere to safety guidelines as efforts to mitigate risks and ensure safety progress. (ILKHA)