JAKARTA (AFP) — A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers into the air, an official said.
Mount Ibu, on Halmahera island in North Maluku province, erupted at 7:45 p.m. central 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.