Rescue workers are currently sifting through debris and mud in search of survivors following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on the island of Flores in Indonesia. The volcano spewed thick brownish ash up to 2,000 meters high and threw searing lava, gravel, and ash up to seven kilometers from its crater, affecting nearby villages and towns.
The National Disaster Management Agency has confirmed at least nine fatalities, with 63 others hospitalized, 31 of them in serious condition. More than 2,400 villagers have been evacuated to emergency shelters after the eruption destroyed seven schools, 23 houses, and a convent of nuns on the predominantly Catholic island.
Authorities are facing challenges in the evacuation and search efforts due to smoldering debris, thick mud, and a power blackout. The eruption has caused significant damage to infrastructure, with roads destroyed by thick mud and volcanic debris.
Residents who fled the volcano have been warned not to return during the lull in activity. Videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency show the extent of the devastation, with roads covered in ash and houses buried under mud, rocks, and uprooted trees.
The eruption was preceded by a series of smaller eruptions since Thursday, leading to a buildup of pressure under a lava dome in the crater. The country's geology agency has warned of the potential for hot ash and debris to tumble down from the crater due to heavy rains.
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed government officials to coordinate the response to the disaster. The volcano's alert status has been raised to the highest level, and the exclusion zone has been expanded to a seven-kilometer radius.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of Indonesia's 120 active volcanoes and is part of the country's geologically active 'Ring of Fire.' This eruption comes just weeks after another volcanic event in West Sumatra province.
