Volcano in Indonesia Spews Lava and Smoke

Jakarta, 18 Apr (ONA) --- Indonesian rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people today after a volcano erupted five times, forcing local authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning about falling debris that could cause a tsunami.

The crater of Mount Ruang flamed with lava against a backdrop of lightning bolts overnight after erupting four times yesterday, forcing authorities to raise its alert level to the highest of a four-tiered system.

The volcano in Indonesia's outermost region was still billowing a column of smoke this morning, prompting local authorities to shut the nearest international airport in Manado city on Sulawesi island for 24 hours.

More than 800 people were initially taken to safety from Ruang to nearby Tagulandang island after the first eruption last Tuesday before four more eruptions yesterday.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

--- Ends/Thuraiya/KH