
By Sama Marwan,
Indonesian authorities have confirmed the evacuation of thousands of people following the eruption of Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province.
The Indonesian Geological Agency issued a top-level alert, prompting local authorities to call for the evacuation of approximately 3,000 residents living near the site, according to the local newspaper The Jakarta Post and Swiss radio station LAC.

As of this morning, 517 residents of the village closest to the volcano have already been evacuated, with the remaining population expected to follow by the afternoon.
A spokesperson for the local disaster management agency, Irfan Idris, stated that evacuation shelters have been prepared by local authorities. Residents and tourists have been urged to avoid the restricted area, which spans five to six kilometers around the volcano’s summit, and to wear masks in case of ashfall.
Indonesia, an expansive archipelago located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity.
The volcanic activity of Mount Ibu, situated on an island with a population of approximately 700,000, has intensified since June following a series of earthquakes. The volcano has erupted nine times since the start of 2025.
In November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a “twin-peaked volcano standing 1,703 meters tall on the tourist island of Flores,” erupted more than 12 times in a single week. The initial explosion claimed nine lives.