JAKARTA, Indonesia: Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Indonesia’s Flores Island erupted late Sunday, killing at least nine people and forcing evacuations from nearby villages.
The eruption, which took place at 11:57 p.m. local time, sent lava, volcanic ash, and incandescent rocks into the sky. Following the eruption, a power outage struck the area, and heavy rains and lightning caused additional panic, according to Hadi Wijaya from the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Authorities raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level and recommended evacuations within a seven-kilometer radius around the volcano. By Monday morning, local official Heronimus Lamawuran confirmed the death toll and noted that seven villages were affected, with ash covering the nearest villages and causing property damage. Evacuations to safer areas, around 20 kilometers from the crater, have commenced.
Indonesia, situated on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences volcanic eruptions. In recent months, eruptions from Mount Ibu, Ruang, and Mount Marapi have led to evacuations and even fatalities, with flash floods from Mount Marapi killing over 60 people in May. Authorities continue to monitor and gather data on the impact of Mount Lewotobi’s latest activity.
