Thousands flee as Indonesia raises Ibu volcano alert to highest level
Increased volcanic activity at Indonesia’s Ibu volcano prompted authorities to raise the Alert Level to 4 on January 15, 2025, and issue evacuation orders for some 3 000 people living in 6 villages near the volcano.
Ibu volcano eruption on January 12, 2025. Image credit: PVMBG
The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG), Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, increased the Alert Level for Ibu volcano to IV (the highest) on January 15, following a series of eruptions with dense ash emissions up to 4 km (13 100 feet) above the summit and a 500 m (1 640 feet) long pyroclastic flow on January 15.
As a result, around 3 000 people living in 6 villages near Ibu were ordered to evacuate.
By Thursday morning, January 16, 517 residents from the village nearest to the volcano had been evacuated, with the remaining residents scheduled to be relocated later in the afternoon.
“The evacuation shelters have been prepared by the local administration, and today a full evacuation will be carried out for all residents in six villages,” said Irfan Idrus, a spokesman for the local disaster management agency.
Idrus added that evacuations began on Wednesday at 18:00 LT (11:00 GMT) but were delayed due to administrative and logistical issues. In addition, rainfall affecting the area since Thursday morning has further hampered the process.
Residents, visitors, and tourists are advised to avoid activities, climbing, or approaching Ibu within a 5 km (3.1 miles) radius and a 6 km (3.7 miles) sector extending from the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater.
If ashfall occurs, individuals outdoors are advised to use masks for nose and mouth protection and wear eye protection, such as glasses.
Residents beyond the 5 km radius and outside the 6 km sector are urged to remain vigilant and follow directives from the Regional Government.
Communities near Mount Ibu should be aware of the potential for lava flows in rivers originating from the peak, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Residents are urged to remain calm, avoid misinformation regarding the eruption, and follow guidance from the North Maluku Provincial BPBD, the West Halmahera Regency BPBD, and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, Geological Agency in Bandung.
Ibu Volcano has been erupting since 2008. Its activity involves frequent ash emissions, dome growth within its inner crater, and occasional lava flows.
The volcano’s eruptive history includes activity in 1998 and 2008 marked by ash emissions and lava dome formation.
References:
1 Penyampaian Kenaikan Tingkat Aktivitas G. lbu Dari Level III (Siaga) Menjadi Level IV (Awas) – PVMBG – January 15, 2025
2 Ibu – GVP – Accessed on January 16, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
“… Yet I tell you, there is a sign greater than these. For all creation obeys My voice; from the deepest depths to the highest peaks, to the rocks which lay upon the ground; from the multitudes of insects to the animals of the field and those which fly above; from the waters of the sea to every living creature which dwells within them, great and small; from the winds of heaven to the stars above, all creation obeys the voice of The Almighty.
Yet with man it is not so. For the heart of man remains hard and unyielding, and oh how he sets his ways in stone. For in his arrogance, he refuses to listen to the Word of God, nor will he accept My correction. And because of his pride he remains unwilling to heed the call of The Most High. Yet I tell you the truth, that which is made of stone shall break! And that which refuses to be broken shall be crushed beneath the weight of The Cornerstone! Yet that which is laid atop it shall be broken and refashioned, made new.
Thus a heart made new in The Lord is the greatest sign of all. For the whole earth is set under My authority, obeying My will without question. Whether upon the land or in the sea, or in the heavens above, all things obey the voice of The Living God, save man. For to him alone did I give the will to choose. And what is life without love? And what is love without the free will to choose love? I tell you the truth, a gift commanded is no gift at all! Yet a gift accepted is where you shall find life, love and salvation…
Behold, all shall be moved from their places, that the eyes of the prideful might be opened and the ears of the arrogant unstopped, that all might repent and return to Me! Therefore watch! For the time has come for the will of God to be made manifest, for the earth to tremble and quake, to spew its fervent heat! Now is the time for signs in the heavens above and in the earth beneath, for the judgments of God to be poured out, for the wrath of God to fall from Heaven! Therefore, come out from among them, and take refuge in Me. For I am your only shelter, your only sanctuary from the storm, says The Holy One of Israel.”
(From The Volumes of Truth, Volume One, an excerpt from “The Signs of the Coming of The Son of Man”)