The Ibu volcano, which is located in the province of North Maluku in Indonesia, spewed ash and smoke up to a height of 5,000 meters, and the eruption lasted five minutes, reports the British newspaper “Mirror“.
Locals were advised to wear masks and goggles to protect themselves from the ash falling to the ground.
“Volcanic earthquakes are still intense, and there is a possibility of a new eruption”; said Hendra Gunavan, director of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.
He said people near the volcano are advised to wear masks and goggles if ash starts falling to the ground.
Officials have advised locals and tourists to stop all activities within a five kilometer radius around the crater.
Gunavan reminded that more than 13,000 people live in that radius from the north side of the crater.
After a minor eruption on Friday, May 10, the Center raised the alert level from level two to level three.
The 1,325-meter-high volcano is located on the northwest coast of Halmahera Island.