JAKARTA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Wednesday raised the volcanic alert status of Mount Ibu, located in the country's eastern province of North Maluku, to the highest level following its increasing volcanic activity.
Standing at 1,325 meters high, the volcano has reportedly erupted continuously for several days.
One of the biggest eruptions occurred at 7:11 a.m. local time, sending a column of ash up to 4 km into the sky. The thick grey cloud drifted west of the volcano, according to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
In a statement, the country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that it has coordinated with regional authorities and PVMBG to monitor the situation on-site.
PVMBG has called on the public to stay away from a 4.5-km radius danger zone. It also urged vigilance in a 6-km extended danger zone on the northern sector due to increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.
Mount Ibu is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.
