Volcano erupts in eastern Indonesia leaving airport shutdown

Mount Gamalama volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted earlier on Wednesday, forcing local authorities to close an airport, an official of disaster agency disclosed here.

A 4.6-magnitude quake triggered the volcano to erupt at 6:28 a.m. local time, spewing a column of ash by up to 600 meters high, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency.

The volcanic ash was spread to the southeast and south of the crater, but there is no evacuation so far, he added.

"Babullah airport in Ternate city is closed because of the volcanic ash," he told Xinhua via phone.

The volcanic ash from volcano eruption in eastern part of Indonesia has often disturbed flight with route to Indonesia and Australia.

Mount Gamalama is one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes.
 [Xinhua -globaltimes.cn]
3/8/16