One of the most active volcanoes in eastern Indonesia, Karangetang, erupted violently with hot gas and ash yesterday morning. However, hundreds of residents in the danger zone are refusing to evacuate.
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| Hot gas erupting from Karangetang (Photo: volcanspro) |
The authorities on Siau Island, where Karangetang is located, have declared a state of alert around the area for the past two weeks. Since then, more than 4,000 people have been evacuated from surrounding villages. However, over 500 others remain determined to stay behind to care for their livestock and crops.
According to Indonesian volcano researcher Saut Simatupang, this morning, the 1,783-meter-high Karangetang erupted approximately 30 times, releasing lava and scorching ash. He added that authorities cannot force people to evacuate or prevent them from returning home to protect their belongings.
In 1992, Karangetang erupted lava that resulted in the deaths of six people on Siau Island. This is just a part of Indonesia’s volcanic chain, as the country is situated in an area known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire.”
Earthquakes and volcanic activity are constant threats to the people of Indonesia. Most recently, a tremor off the coast of Java Island earlier this month triggered a tsunami that killed over 600 people. Previously, in May, an earthquake on the same island took the lives of 5,800 individuals.
Additionally, Indonesian scientists are paying special attention to the active Merapi volcano on Java Island. Currently, the danger from this volcano has decreased, but it previously forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
