A volcano erupted in Indonesia, spewing a column of smoke 1.5 kilometers high world

A volcano erupted on Wednesday (8), in eastern Indonesia, spewing a plume of smoke 1.5 kilometers high, prompting authorities to increase the alert level and ask residents to stay away from the local area.

Mount Ebo, on Halmahera Island, north of Maluku Province, became active at 11:11 a.m. local time (11:11 p.m. Tuesday, Brasilia time), releasing a thick cloud of smoke and ash into the atmosphere.

According to the Indonesian volcanology agency PVMGB, the column rises 1.5 kilometers above the crater.

“Based on visual and instrument monitoring, activity on Mount Ebu has moved from Level 2 to Level 3” on a scale of 4, agency head Hendra Gunawan said in a statement.

Authorities created a 3-5 km exclusion zone around the crater and advised residents to wear masks and goggles for outdoor activities.

The vast Indonesian archipelago is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which is why it frequently records seismic and volcanic activity.

Last month, Mount Ruang volcano in the north of the country erupted several times, requiring evacuations and temporary airport closures.