Thousands of residents are being moved from an Indonesian island following a powerful volcanic eruption that has also grounded flights in Indonesia and Malaysia. The evacuation of Tagulandang island began Wednesday, one day after authorities ordered 12,000 people to leave. Mount Ruang erupted before dawn Tuesday on a remote island in the archipelago.
The initial blast sent lava shooting into the night sky, with hot rock fragments igniting trees on the upper slopes. A second, more violent phase of the eruption began by sunrise.
Residents reported hearing what sounded like “the mountain was cracking open,” with falling stones described as “like rain” that punched holes through roofs. Evacuation efforts prioritized pregnant women and the elderly. Rosalin Salindeho, 95, was carried from the beach and told reporters after arriving on Siau island that she left with only the clothes she wore.
A naval frigate, two passenger ferries, and numerous fishing boats are making the 30-kilometer crossing to Siau island. Lieutenant Commander Sigit Widyanto told state radio that crews kept engines running while people boarded as waves began to pick up.
Ash Cloud Forces Airport Closures
The eruption sent an ash plume five kilometers into the sky, drifting northwest at 15 kilometers per hour. AirNav Indonesia closed Sam Ratulangi airport in Manado, the region’s main hub, at 06:00 Tuesday. Five additional airports in Gorontalo, Luwuk, Palu, Toli-Toli, and two smaller airstrips followed as radar tracked the ash moving west.
By Thursday, the ash had reached the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo, prompting fresh flight cancellations on both sides of the border. Seven airports from North Sulawesi to Malaysia’s Borneo coast have been affected.
The disruption to air travel continues, with airlines yet to announce when normal operations might resume.
Tsunami Risk Remains Primary Concern
Authorities fear part of the crater could slide into the sea and generate a local tsunami, replicating an 1871 event that destroyed coastal villages. The volcanology center raised the alert to its highest level on the day the eruption began.
The highest alert level means further explosive eruptions remain possible. The evacuation of Tagulandang island continues as the tsunami risk remains the most urgent concern. If the crater collapses into the sea, waves would hit Tagulandang first. The process of moving 12,000 people by boat is slow, relying primarily on ferries and fishing boats with assistance from the naval frigate.
The elderly and pregnant women have been evacuated first, with others following as vessels return. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with Mount Ruang among many active volcanoes in the archipelago.
This eruption has crossed borders, with ash reaching Malaysian airspace and flights grounded in two countries. The ash cloud could shift again depending on wind patterns, potentially closing more airports and canceling additional flights.
