Mount Ruang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruang |
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Ruang from the island of Tagulandang, in March 2016
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 725 m (2,379 ft) |
| Listing | Spesial Ribu |
| Geography | |
| Location | Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | April 2024 (ongoing) |
Ruang is a volcano found in Indonesia. It is the most southern volcano in a chain of islands called the Sangihe Islands. This volcano is actually an island itself, about 4 by 5 kilometers (2.5 by 3 miles) wide.
Its top, called the summit, is about 725 meters (2,379 feet) high. There is also a part of a lava dome there. From the top of Ruang, you can see other islands like Klabat, Siau, and Ternate.
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What is Ruang Made Of?
The top of Ruang has a special feature called a lava dome. This dome formed after the volcano was active in 1904. Since then, scientists have seen more lava domes form. They have also seen pyroclastic flows, which are fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic rock.
When Ruang Wakes Up: Its Eruptions
Past Eruptions Before 2000
Ruang volcano has erupted at least 16 times. The first recorded eruption happened in 1808.
A big eruption happened in 1871. Dr. Adolf Bernhard Meyer saw this powerful event. At that time, Ruang island was not lived on. However, people from nearby Tagulandang island had many farms on Ruang's slopes. The eruption quickly destroyed these farms. It also caused a tsunami, a giant ocean wave, that swept away most of their large village on Tagulandang. Sadly, about 300 to 400 people lost their lives.
The April 2024 Eruption
New eruptions started on April 16, 2024. Because of this, over 800 people had to leave Ruang island. They moved to the nearby island of Tagulandang. Authorities set up a safety zone around the volcano. This zone was first 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide, then grew to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles).
On April 17, the volcano's alert level was raised to four. This is the highest alert level in Indonesia. A tsunami warning was also given. This led to orders for 11,000 people, including those who had already left Ruang, to move to Manado. Manado is on the main island of Sulawesi. This move was needed because of the risk of the volcano collapsing into the sea.
The eruption also caused Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado to close. The area where the volcano is located, called Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency, declared a 14-day state of emergency. More than 500 houses and buildings were damaged by the eruption. After a short quiet period, the volcano erupted again on April 30.
The volcano's ash and gas plume, which contained sulphur dioxide, spread far. It reached 1000 kilometers (620 miles) away by April 19. This covered the whole island of Borneo. Because of this, airlines in West Malaysia and Singapore canceled flights to Sabah and Sarawak on April 18. However, the air quality on the ground in Sabah and Sarawak was not affected.
See Also
