As Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts once more, residents are fleeing and authorities are on high alert due to rising volcanic activity.
Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Clouds and Prompting Evacuations
Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Clouds and Prompting Evacuations
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts with an ash cloud reaching 18 kilometers, leading to evacuations and flight cancellations.
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has once again erupted, launching a tremendous ash cloud into the atmosphere, reaching heights of 18 kilometers (11 miles). The eruption began early Monday morning, prompting residents on the island of Flores to evacuate their homes for safety. Fortunately, officials report no casualties linked to the recent activity; however, the volcano has been placed under the highest alert level, a decision made following a series of eruptions three weeks ago.
At least 24 flights destined for the popular resort island of Bali faced cancellations on Monday, although some services resumed the following day. The initial eruption occurred at 11:05 local time (03:05 GMT), marking the most intense activity since the volcano's last significant eruption in November. Muhammad Wafid, the chief of the local geology agency, indicated that the eruption's size poses increased risks, particularly for aviation.
Authorities expanded the exclusion zone around the volcano to a 7-kilometer radius following a thunderous roar accompanying the eruption. Residents are warned of potential lahar floods—mudflows that occur during heavy rains—due to the significant volcanic debris present.
The volcano, featuring twin peaks, erupted a second time on Monday evening at 19:30, sending ash clouds and lava as high as 13 kilometers. A third, less intense eruption occurred early Tuesday morning at 05:53. Video footage taken overnight depicted red-hot lava surging from the volcano's summits as locals evacuated the area, resulting in more than 4,000 residents being displaced.
Surviving residents are now facing water, food, and mask shortages. Local authorities are particularly concerned about the cleanliness of available water, given that thick layers of volcanic ash have engulfed surrounding areas. “As the eruption continues, with secondary explosions and drifting ash clouds, our communities need focused emergency response efforts," stated Paulus Sony Sang Tukan, the leader of a nearby village.
Indonesia is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," which is prone to significant volcanic and seismic activities. Although Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has experienced multiple eruptions throughout the year without reported fatalities, a November eruption had tragically claimed at least ten lives and led to mass evacuations. The mountain, named "man" in Indonesian, is paired with the neighboring, quieter peak Perempuan, meaning "woman," which towers at 1,703 meters. Additional information was provided by Eliazar Ballo, reporting from Kupang.
