Indonesia's Ruang volcano erupts again; alert status raised

Indonesia's Ruang volcano spewed explosive incandescent lava towards the night sky on April 30 as lightning flashes lit up its crater, prompting the authorities to raise the alert status and warn of a possible tsunami.

The country's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation warned residents living on Tagulandang, the island closest to the volcano, that a tsunami could be triggered by volcanic material collapsing into the ocean.

The warning was issued on the morning of April 30, with an official from the centre Hetty Triastuty saying it remained in place in the afternoon.

The agency raised the alert status of Ruang to the highest level following the early morning eruption, urging residents not to go near the volcano.