Indonesia volcano eruption sparks tsunami fears

Authorities in Indonesia have issued a tsunami alert after a volcano erupted five times in the province of North Sulawesi, spewing a column of smoke more than a mile into the sky and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes.

Indonesia’s volcanology agency say a stratovolcano, first erupted on Tuesday and then four times on Wednesday.

The alert level for the volcano, which has a peak of 725 metres above sea level, was raised on Wednesday evening from three to four, the highest level in the four-tiered system.

Authorities say they were rushing to evacuate 11,000 residents from nearby areas, including the remote island of Tagulandang, home to around 20,000 people.

The volcano was still billowing a column of smoke yesterday morning, prompting authorities to shut the nearest international airport in Manado city on Sulawesi island for 24 hours.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries so far. Indonesia, a vast country of archipelagos, sees frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, an arc where tectonic plates collide, which stretches from Japan through south-east Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Source:BBC