Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia erupted once more on Thursday, sending a column of hot clouds soaring 2,500 meters from its peak. This event occurred just three days after a previous eruption claimed the lives of nine individuals and left many others injured. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of casualties from this latest eruption.
The 1,584-meter volcano on the remote island of Flores released clouds of gray hot ash on Thursday, with a mixture of rock, lava, and gas ejected up to 1 kilometer from its crater, as confirmed by Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation.
Following Monday's deadly eruption, which impacted over 10,000 people in 10 villages, the volcano had shown decreased activity. However, the recent eruption has prompted authorities to raise the alert status to the highest level and expand the exclusion zone to a 7-kilometer radius, prohibiting any activities in the area.
More than 4,400 villagers have sought refuge in emergency shelters after the eruption destroyed schools, houses, and a convent on the predominantly Catholic island. The government is planning to relocate approximately 16,000 residents out of the danger zone as a long-term mitigation measure.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is part of a pair of stratovolcanoes in East Flores, known locally as the husband-and-wife mountains. The volcano has a history of eruptions, with a previous evacuation of 6,500 people in January due to volcanic activity.
Indonesia, with its 120 active volcanoes, is situated along the 'Ring of Fire,' a region prone to seismic activities. The recent eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki serves as a reminder of the country's vulnerability to natural disasters.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge residents to adhere to safety measures to prevent further casualties and damage.
