Hundreds evacuated after volcanic eruptions in Indonesia

ANKARA

Authorities evacuated thousands of residents in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province as multiple eruptions of Ruang volcano spewed lava and ash clouds into the sky for days, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said on Wednesday.

Located on Ruang Island about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the provincial capital of Manado, the volcano has erupted more than three times since Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 11,000 residents, which make up most of the entire population on the island.

An alert level to the second highest level has been raised after the increasing eruption, triggered by recent earthquakes on the island, and a tsunami warning has been issued.

Footage aired on local broadcaster showed flows of red lava streaming down the mountain, and wafting clouds of grey ash above its crater.

Straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes.