Indonesian Volcano Erupts, Spews Ash 5 Kilometers Into Sky

No damage or casualties were immediately reported but images showed a tower of ash soaring into the sky above Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province.

The huge grey and black ash column was "seen in thick intensity and leaning towards the west", said Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation in a statement.

It called on locals and tourists not to go within five kilometres of Ibu's crater.

"If ash fall occurs, residents carrying out outdoor activities are suggested to wear nose, mouth, and eye protections," it said.

Ibu also erupted on Monday, spewing another ash tower five kilometres above its peak.

Last week authorities raised Ibu's alert status to the second-highest level.

Ndtv