Mount Ibu erupts, spews hot ash, sand in Indonesia

ISTANBUL

An active volcano in Indonesia on Monday spewed ash and sand, which spread to around six kilometers (3.7 miles), said the Southeast Asian nation’s Geology Agency.

The volcano on Mount Ibu, located in eastern Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, erupted at around 03:03 a.m. (2003GMT, Sunday), Geology Agency's head Muhammad Wafid said in a statement to state-run Antara News.

It said rain of ash and sand fell on residential areas and the volcano observation post in Gam Ici village in Ibu district of the province.

"After six days without an eruption, Mount Ibu erupted again with a height of 6,000 meters," said Wafid.

The agency urged local residents to avoid moving within four kilometers radios of the volcano.

It erupted almost 95 times this year and Wafid said the volcano is currently on the highest alert level since May 16.

Indonesia maintains a four-tiered alert system.