Indonesia volcano erupts, thousands evacuated over Tsunami threat

Volcanic eruption in Indonesia shuts airport (Image: Reuters)

Eruptions at a remote Indonesian volcano forced thousands to evacuate over Tsunami threat with half a dozen airports forced to close down with ash spreading as far as Malaysia, officials said Wednesday.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire". The country's volcanology agency had warned that the danger which the volcano posed was not over after it erupted more than half a dozen times this month, compelling the evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

According to reports, Mount Ruang erupted three times on Tuesday, spewing lava and ash more than five kilometres (three miles) into the sky and forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders for 12,000 locals.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency (BMKG) shared a map on Wednesday morning that showed volcanic ash had reached as far as eastern Malaysia on Borneo island, which the country shares with Indonesia and Brunei.

The spread of volcanic ash forced seven airports to close, the biggest in the provincial capital Manado and the city of Gorontalo, according to a notice from state-run air traffic control provider AirNav Indonesia.