Volcanic eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on the remote island of Flores in eastern Indonesia left at least 10 people dead and scores injured. Authorities have raised the status of the volcano to the highest alert level and evacuated nearby villages because of explosive plumes of lava.
Indonesia Laki-laki Volcano Eruptions
Hadi Wijaya, a spokesperson for The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, said Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted near midnight on Sunday. It belched a fiery-red column of lava, volcanic ash and red-hot stones. Wijaya said there were a power outage, rain and phenomenal lightning that caused residents to panic.
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The ash and hot stones hit several villages and burned down houses, including a convent of Catholic nuns. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki threw up volcanic material up to 6 km from its cater, blanketed nearby villages and towns with tons of volcanic ash and debris.
Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesman, said rescuers are looking for people and bodies stuck and buried under collapsed houses. He highlighted that about 10,000 people have been affected by the volcano eruption in Wulanggitang and Bura district. Muhari said the local government is setting up temporary shelters in schools. Moreover, a state of emergency has been declared to help the affected residents.
Muhammad Wafid, the Head of Geology Agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said the recent eruption was caused by a blockage of magma in the mountain’s cater, accumulation of hidden energy.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has also erupted in January this year. And the recent eruption is Indonesia’s second volcanic eruption – with Mount Marapi in Sumatra having erupted on October 27 and there were no casualties.
