Indonesia’s Mount Ibu erupts again, sending 5 km of volcanic ash

Jakarta, May 20 Ibu volcano in Indonesia’s Halmahera Island erupted again on Monday, sending volcanic ash as high as 5,000 meters to its peak, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said on Monday.

The eruption occurred at 11:36 a.m. local time for more than two minutes, and the thick ash column leaned towards the southwest and west, said Ibu Volcano Observation Post Officer Ridwan Djalil.

The center raised its hazardous status from level three to four, the highest, on May 16, following a significant increase in the mountain’s recent activity.

Local people are asked to avoid the danger zone within a 4 km radius and 7 km in the northern sector of the crater.