Indonesian authorities are preparing to evacuate nearly 1,000 people living in dangerous zones as Banda Api volcano in Maluku province of eastern Indonesia has turned more active.
Mount Banda Api is being hit by several sudden tremors since several days, forcing state rangers to ban any activity in the radius of one kilometer from the crater.
A recommendation for evacuation and an activity ban within one kilometer from the crater have been issued.
According to experts, this increase in earthquake frequency may indicate an imminent eruption. And if it doesn’t happen, poisonous gas will spread from the crater.
According to the head of the disaster agency in the area, many residents still live in the slope of the volcano, and more than 770 people live within the dead zone. All of them must be evacuated as soon as possible.
Mount Banda Api erupted in 1998, killing 3 people and prompting evacuations for thousands of residents.
