Mount Gamalama on the Indonesian island of Ternate spewed more ash into the skies on Tuesday (December 6).<br/> The debris travelled up to 500 metres into the air.<br/> Volcanologists monitoring Gamalama's activity say conditions are fluctuating. The alert level is at the second highest.<br/> The Sultan Babullah airport in the provincial capital has been closed since Monday (December 5).<br/> Thousands living at the base of the volcano have fled their homes, taking shelter at a former government office building.<br/> Indonesia lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and is prone to natural disasters like volcano eruptions, earthquakes, floods and tsunamis.
