JAKARTA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) on Thursday afternoon raised the alert level over Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island in the eastern province of North Maluku following continually increasing activities.
Standing as high as around 1,300 meters above sea level, Ibu erupted on Thursday morning at around 10 a.m. local time, throwing ash up to 5,000 meters above its peak.
Its volcanic activities, like earthquakes and volcanic ash, have increased since the middle of last month, said PVMBG, adding that people should stay away from a four-km radius danger zone.
It also urged vigilance in the seven-km extended danger zone on the northern sector due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the countries with the most volcanoes in the world. ■
