Indonesia volcano erupts, spews ash 7 km into the sky

JAKARTA: A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Sunday, spewing an ash cloud seven kilometres into the sky as authorities warned residents to shelter indoors.

It is the latest of around 100 eruptions from the volcano since early this year.

Mount Ibu, located on Halmahera island in North Maluku province, erupted at 12.45 pm (0345 GMT), sending thick clouds of ash into the air, Geology Agency head Muhammad Wafid said in a statement.

The eruption from the volcano -- which has been at the highest alert level of the country´s four-tiered system since mid-May -- lasted for 6 minutes and 13 seconds, he added.

Ash was carried by the wind towards the volcano´s monitoring station and an evacuation shelter next to it, but “there was no panic” among the evacuees, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Abdul Muhari said in a statement Sunday.

“People have been advised to avoid outdoor activities and shelter indoors while the ash mixed with sand is still raining down,” Abdul said.