Three new explosions took place today Ibu volcano In eastern Indonesia, which has been very active since the beginning of the year, the ash plume was sent up to 5 km from the summit, officials said.
Three consecutive eruptions, the first at 1:00 a.m. local time (7:00 p.m. Greek time on Wednesday) and then at 7:46 a.m. and 8:11 a.m. local time, according to the National Volcanology and Geology Service. also happened. statement. .
The director of the agency, Mohammad Wafid, said in the announcement that the ash column from the first explosion reached a height of more than 5 kilometers from the summit, and the last explosion lasted for about two minutes.
The volcano, which has seen nearly a hundred eruptions since the beginning of the year, is currently at the highest of four danger levels in the Indonesian system. Authorities raised the alert level to maximum in mid-May
The population has been advised not to enter the exclusion zone, which stretches up to four to seven kilometers around the crater, to wear breathing masks and to protect the eyes.
Ibu is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. More than 21,000 eruptions were recorded last year.
According to the official figures of 2022, more than 700 thousand people live on the island of Halmachera.
On May 17, hundreds of people living near the volcano were evacuated as a precaution after the threat of a new eruption was raised to the highest level.