Indonesia's Ruang volcano erupts again, no tsunami warning issued

By Anadolu staff

A volcano in Indonesia’s Ruang Island again erupted early Tuesday, but no tsunami warning has so far been issued, local media reported.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation said that the volcano erupted again in the North Sulawesi Province, Kompas TV reported.

The height of ash observed due to the eruption of Mount Ruang was approximately 2,000 meters above the peak, it said.

"An eruption occurred with the height of the eruption column reaching 2,000 meters," the center said in a statement, adding rumbling sounds and an earthquake were also felt in the region.

The government has already decided to relocate the residents of Ruang Island, North Sulawesi, affected by the Mount Ruang eruption since April 16.

"They are now being evacuated and soon will be relocated," state-run Antara News quoted the National Disaster Mitigation Agency deputy head Jarwansyah as saying.

Since April 16, volcanic eruptions in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi left dozens of flights canceled, affecting thousands of passengers, as authorities closed the Sam Ratulangi Airport.

Located on Ruang Island about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the provincial capital of Manado, the volcano has erupted several times since April 16, forcing the evacuation of more than 11,000 residents, which make up most of the entire population on the island.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid