In brief
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted, prompting a 7km exclusion zone and evacuations as officials raise alerts amid potential dangers.
One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes has erupted, sending a massive ash cloud rising more than 11 kilometers into the atmosphere on Tuesday. The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which occurred at 17:35 local time, prompted officials to declare the highest alert level as the volcanic activity affects nearby regions, particularly the tourist island of Flores.Officials from Indonesia's volcanology agency established a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the summit of the 1,584-meter tall volcano. As of now, no casualties or significant damages have been reported. However, the volcano's recent history includes a series of eruptions in November that resulted in nine fatalities and the displacement of thousands. Flight disruptions due to the ash cloud have also been noted.Muhammad Wafid, head of the geology agency, emphasized the importance of keeping the area clear, warning residents of potential lahar flows—hazardous mud or debris movements associated with volcanic materials—particularly should rain follow the eruption. Local citizens have been encouraged to wear masks to shield against harmful ash inhalation. In response to the heightened risk, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency has evacuated at least one nearby village, while residents in the vicinity have been urged to seek safer locations due to ongoing seismic activity, indicating further eruptions could be possible. This latest eruption follows a similar escalation in May when alerts were also raised. The twin volcanic structure of Lewotobi Laki-Laki, whose name translates to "man," is accompanied by the taller and relatively calmer Lewotobi Perempuan, translating to "woman" in Indonesian.
