Indonesia's Ibu volcano erupts again with ash columns five kilometers high

Indonesia's volcanology agency said the Ibu volcano erupted again Tuesday, sending an ash column five kilometers high, and there were no immediate reports of evacuations.

The eruption of Mount Ibu on the eastern island of Hamahera lasted about two minutes at 5:36 a.m. Tuesday, according to an official at Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), Khelunityas. He warned people not to move within seven kilometers of the crater.

"The volcano has been active recently because there has been strong magma movement," Khrunyas said. He also said that since May 16, the Ibu volcano has been on the highest alert.

Video images from PVMBG showed a small eruption of Mount Ibu on Tuesday, sending ash billowing into the sky.

Indonesia's disaster management agency says residents of seven villages near Mount Ibu have been ordered to evacuate after a series of eruptions over the past month. But authorities did not issue an evacuation order Tuesday.