Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupts, spewing volcanic ash as seen from Pululera village in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on July 10, 2024. – Reuters file
At least six people perished following multiple eruptions of a volcano in eastern Indonesia overnight, officials reported on Monday, prompting an escalation of the alert level to the maximum on a four-tiered scale. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, situated on the renowned tourist island of Flores, discharged ash and lava, raining fireballs over the surrounding region and compelling authorities to evacuate several villages.
"Six fatalities have been verified," stated Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the nation's disaster management agency, during an interview with Kompas TV. Video footage obtained by AFP depicted villages in the vicinity of the volcano blanketed in thick ash, with some areas engulfed in flames. An AFP journalist close to the volcano confirmed the evacuation of five villages. Several wooden houses were set ablaze, and the ground was marred by holes resulting from molten rocks.
The crater erupted shortly before midnight and again at 1:27 am (1727 GMT Sunday) and 2:48 am, according to the agency. The country's volcanology agency elevated the alert level to its highest and advised locals and tourists to refrain from activities within a seven-kilometre (4.3-mile) radius of the crater. "There has been a substantial surge in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki," it stated in a press release on Monday. The agency cautioned of potential lava floods induced by rain and urged locals to don masks to mitigate the impact of volcanic ash.
The mountain experienced several significant eruptions in January, prompting authorities to raise the alert status to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents. Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago nation, frequently encounters eruptions due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone characterized by intense volcanic and seismic activity. In December last year, an eruption at one of the country's most active volcanoes, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, claimed the lives of at least 24 climbers, predominantly university students. In May, over 60 individuals lost their lives when heavy rains dislodged volcanic material from Marapi, inundating residential areas and sweeping away homes. That month, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents from nearby islands.
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