Overall Green alert Volcanic eruption for Ruang
in Indonesia

Event summary

GREEN alert: The Ruang Volcanic eruption is unlikely to require external humanitarian assistance based on the exposed population and coping capacity.

GDACS ID VO 1000088
Name: Ruang (267010)
Lat/Lon: 2.3 , 125.37
Event Date: 29 Apr 2024 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 25000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 360000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 4
Population Exposure Index PEI: 4
Inserted at: 30 Apr 2024 06:15 UTC

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Indonesia - Volcanic Eruption (ECHO 17 Apr 2024)Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:37

  • Ruang volcano, located on Ruang Island (part of Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi Province), increased its volcanic activity on 16-17 April with explosions and emission of volcanic ash and lava. The worst hit areas are Pumpente Village and Pathology Village in Tagulandang District (Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province).
  • According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), 828 people have been displaced, of whom 45 are in one evacuation centre and 783 are in the homes of relatives.
  • National and local authorities are providing assistance for those affected and established an Emergency Response Status for 14 days starting from April 16.
  • The level of the volcano has been raised from II to III, people cannot enter in the area radius of 4 km from the centre of the active crater.
Indonesia - Volcanic Eruption, update (ECHO 18 Apr 2024)Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:59

  • The activity of the Ruang volcano, located on Ruang Island (part of Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi Province), is still ongoing. Between 16 and 17 April three main explosive events occurred and the ash column reached up to 3 km above the summit of the crater. 
  • According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), 828 people (506 residents of Laingpatehi Village and 322 residents of Pumpente Village in Sitaro Regency) remain displaced. 
  • Local authorities are coordinating the emergency response and providing assistance in the form of 123 mats, 123 blankets and 400 masks to the community.
  • The Multiplatform Application for Geohazard Mitigation and Assessment (MAGMA) has raised the alert level to IV (the maximum level).
  • People who live in the Tagulandang Island area (located 1 km north-east of Ruang Island) and are within a radius of 6 km, especially those living close to the coast, should be immediately evacuated to a safe place. This is due to the potential incandescent rock ejection, pyroclastic flow, and tsunami waves that can be triggered by the collapse of the volcano.
Volcano Ruang - EC/ECHO daily mapFri, 19 Apr 2024 18:18

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Indonesia - Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 22 Apr 2024)Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:03

  • Ruang volcano continues its explosive activity and the ash fall has affected at least ten villages located in Ruang and Thulandang Islands, Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi province.
  • According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), the villages/subdistricts affected are Pumpente, Laingpatehi, Mahangiang, Tulusan Barangka Pehe, Apengsala, Lesah Rende, Pahiama, Boto and Leseh, Bahoi and Balehumara.
  • The same source reports, as of 20 April, almost 8,500 affected and displaced people across the aforementioned villages/subdistricts. In addition, 363 houses have been damaged, as well as one church and one school, and 135 other houses have been affected.
  • National authorities are providing assistance for those who have been most affected and the alert level remains at VI (the maximum level).
Indonesia - Earthquake and volcano unrest, update (ECHO 30 Apr 2024)Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:27

  • Following the 6.1 M earthquake that hit the southern coast of West Java province on 27 April, the amount of injured people and damage continues increasing.
  • According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), 11 people have been injured of whom six in Garut, three in Bandung, and two in Ciamis. In addition, 267 houses have been affected.
  • Local authorities are still conducting the damage assessment.
  • In the meantime, Ruang volcano erupted again on 30 April and the ash column reached 2 km above the crater. The volcanic debris following the eruption reached several parts of Tagulandang Island (located 1 km north-east of Ruang Island), including the Emergency Response Post established in Apengsala Village.
  • The alert level of the volcano remains at VI (the maximum level) and people who live in the Tagulandang Island area should be aware of the activity of the volcano. This includes a potential tsunami due to the incandescent rock ejection, pyroclastic flow, and tsunami waves that can be triggered by the collapse of the volcano.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report provides information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Latest Ruang report has been published on 24 Apr 2024 09:22.
PVMBG raised the Alert Level for Ruang to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) at 1300 on 16 April due to intensifying seismicity. A minor eruption began at around 1337 on 16 April and produced dense white emissions; at 1600 the Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4). Explosive activity began at 2145 and ash plumes rose 2 km above the summit. Activity continued to escalate. An explosive pulse was recorded at 0108 on 17 April. According to the Darwin VAAC ash plumes had risen to 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W by 0230, and at 0300 they reached 12.2 km (40,000 ft) a.s.l. and detached from the summit. Ash plumes at a lower altitude of 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. drifted WSW. BNPB reported that 828 people from Pumpente and Laingpatehi villages evacuated to neighboring Tagulandang Island to the NE and the communication network in Laingpatehi village was non-operational. Photos showed incandescent material being ejected above the summit, incandescent material on the flanks, pyroclastic density currents descending the flanks, and dense ash plumes with lightning rising into dark, nighttime skies. Another explosive pulse was recorded at 0505 according to PVMBG, and the VAAC noted that by 0600 ash plumes had risen to 13.7 km (45,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W and NW. The plume was detached from the summit by 0713. Additional smaller eruptive events produced ash plumes that rose to 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. PVMBG recorded bigger eruptive pulses at 1800 and 2015 on 17 April. Roaring and booming noises were sometimes heard, with gray-to-black ash plumes at 2015 and a felt earthquake. According to the VAAC ash plumes rose to 15.2 km (50,000 ft) a.s.l. by 2000 and at least to 19.2 km (63,000 ft) a.s.l. by 2020; the plumes drifted NW. PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 4, the highest level, at 2100 on 17 April noting that seismicity continued to increase, ash plumes were getting taller, and incandescent rocks were ejected as far as 5 km with some reaching Tagulandang Island. The public was warned to stay 6 km away from Ruang?s main crater. Several residents in Tagulandang were hit with tephra and some received medical treatment according to BNPB. Ashfall was recorded in as many as 10 villages in two sub-districts on Tagulandang and in several sub-districts of North Minahasa Regency (75 km SSW) including West Likupang, Wori, East Likupang, and South Likupang. Communication networks in Lumbo Village on Tagulandang were not properly functioning. An estimated 6,045 people living in the W part Tagulandang evacuated. According to a news article, there was damage to more than 3,000 homes, two churches, and an elementary school. Multiple ash layers were identified in a satellite image 2310 on 17 April according to the VAAC; ash at 16.8 km (55,000 ft) a.s.l. drifted NW and E and ash at 14.3 km (47,000 ft) a.s.l. drifted WSW. At 0310 on 18 April ash plumes rose to 12.2 km and drifted WNW and W and detached from the volcano by 0600; earlier high-level plumes continued to expand as they drifted NW. According to a news report the Sam Ratulangi International Airport, 98 km SW in Manado, North Sulawesi, closed on 18 April due to the presence of ash. The VAAC continued to track the plumes; lower-altitude plumes at 7.6 km (25,000 ft) a.s.l. drifted SE. The higher plumes, between 10.7-15.2 km (35,000-50,000 ft) a.s.l., continued to drift NW and WNW and had dissipated by 1710 on 19 April, though sulfur dioxide continued to be tracked W. Weather clouds began to obscure the plumes. On 19 April PVMBG reported that ash plumes rose 400-750 m above the summit and drifted S. During 20-21 April the VAAC issued notifications of ash plumes rising 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting S and SW based on satellite images and information from PVMBG. The closure of the Sam Ratulangi International Airport affected 150 flights and about 19,085 passengers as of 20 April based on a news report; the airport resumed operations at noon on 22 April. PVMBG reported that during 21-23 April dense white steam-and-gas plumes rose as high as 200 m and drifted SW, W, and NW. The Alert Level was lowered to 3 at 0900 on 22 April because activity had decreased. Residents were warned to stay 4 km away from the crater. Sources: Antara News,Antara News,Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) ,Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC),Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM),Tempo,VOI
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Latest media headlines

Indonesia: capturan imágenes del volcán Ruang arrojando cenizas tras s.. 5/3/2024 9:05:00 PM.

Ahora, difundieron las imágenes que lograron ser capturadas en el momento en que el humo se eleva desde el volcán . Según la agencia de estudio vulcanológico de Indonesia (PVMBG), el monte entró en erupción tres veces , lo que provocó el la
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Indonesia: impactantes imágenes de la columna de cenizas generadas por.. 5/3/2024 7:27:00 PM.

de Indonesia volvió a entrar en erupción, generando que más de 12.000 personas evacuadas como consecuencia de la enorme columna de cenizas que alcanzó los 5.000 metros de altura . Este jueves se dieron a conocer una serie de imágenes en las
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Treat people displaced by Mt Ruang eruptions well: Widodo to officials 5/3/2024 3:49:00 PM.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo has directed government officials to treat all residents displaced by Mount Ruang's eruptions humanely and ensure that none of those seeking refuge feel abandoned, Coordinating Human Development and
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Jokowi chairs meeting on relocation of Mt Ruang eruption survivors 5/3/2024 2:39:00 PM.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired a limited meeting with several cabinet members on Friday (May 3, 2024) to discuss a plan to relocate the Mount Ruang eruption-affected residents to a new settlement area in North Sulawesi.
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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (32), (2), INGV (1), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), INFORM (2),