MANADO, Indonesia (NEWSnet/AP) — Indonesian authorities closed an airport, and ordered residents to leave the area, near an erupting volcano Thursday due to the dangers of spreading ash, falling rocks and hot volcanic clouds.

The eruption also resulted in concerns over a possible tsunami.

Mount Ruang on the northern side of Sulawesi Island had at least five large eruptions Wednesday, causing the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation to issue its highest-level alert, indicating an active eruption.

The crater emitted white-gray smoke continuously during the day Thursday, reaching more than 1,600 feet above the peak.

People have been ordered to stay at least 3.7 miles from the mountain. More than 11,000 people live in the affected area and were told to leave; some have done so.

An international airport in Manado city was temporarily closed Thursday as volcanic ash was spewed into the air.

“We have to close flight operations at Sam Ratulangi Airport due to the spread of volcanic ash, which could endanger flight safety,” said Ambar Suryoko, head of the regional airport authority.

Indonesia’s volcanology center noted the risks from the volcanic eruption include the possibility that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami.

Indonesia is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

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