The government has upgraded its travel advisory for Madagascar in response to escalating violence in the region.

The Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it raised the advisory level from one to two for the island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa.

The ministry noted that a series of violent protests which began January 17th in the nation’s capital, Antananarivo, turned into a major political riot last Saturday.

The ministry urged Koreans residing in Madagascar to stay indoors and suggested Koreans who plan to visit reconsider their travel plans until conditions have stabilized.

The ministry added that it sent emergency text messages of the upgraded travel advisory to Korean tourists on the island nation.