Indonesia closes airport after volcano erupts: official

Mount Gamalama, which forms the entire island of Ternate in North Maluku province, erupted late yesterday and forced an airport in Ternate town at its foot to close today, transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said.

"It's a safety measure. The volcanic ash may pose a risk to planes. If there is no more eruption, the airport may be opened tomorrow," he added.

The 1,715-metre volcano caused some panic when it erupted, Darno Lamane, a scientist monitoring the peak told AFP.

"It shot ash and dust particles 2,000 metres into the sky. There were no reports of casualties or injuries but people did panic for a while, screaming as they ran out of their homes," he said.

"The situation has calmed and many residents have gone back home. We will continue to monitor the volcanic activity," he added.

Lamane said that the volcano last erupted in 2003, when no fatalities were recorded.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The archipelago nation is home to 129 active volcanoes, including 21 on Java.