On high alert: Villagers observing Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki as it erupts, as seen from Nangahale village in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara. — AFP
RESIDENTS wore masks to protect themselves from thick volcanic ash that blanketed roads and green rice fields in villages in south-central Indonesia as rumbling Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted for a second straight day.
The eruption at dawn yesterday sent lava and clouds of ash up to 4km high. That followed an eruption around midday Monday that sent a column of volcanic materials up to 18km into the sky and an evening burst that spewed lava and sent volcanic ash as high as 13km into the air.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed terrified residents running for their lives under the rain of ash and gravel, and motorists struggled to drive motorbikes and cars in the reduced visibility as the ash clouds from Monday’s eruption expanded into a mushroom shape.
No casualties have been reported from the latest eruptions of the volcano, which has been at the highest alert level since June 18 when its no-go zone was expanded to a 7km radius, said Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson.
“People around the volcano have increasingly understood how to minimise the impact of disaster risks as eruptions became more frequent since the end of 2023,” he said in a statement.
The eruptions on Flores Island affected more than 10,000 people in 10 villages in East Flores and Sikka districts, according to initial assessments by the local disaster management agency.
Thick volcanic ash and rocks were reported to have fallen in villages of Nawakote, Klantanio, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, Pululera and Wulanggitang, where roads and green rice fields were transformed into grey thick mud and rocks, said Very Awales, an public information official at the Sikka district administration.
Very added that schools were closed in those affected areas since Monday to protect students and staff from various hazards due to volcanic activities.
“The smell of sulphur and ash hung so thickly in the air that breathing was painful,” Very said.
Authorities distributed 50,000 masks and urged residents to limit outdoor activities to protect themselves from volcanic materials.
Residents were also urged to be vigilant about heavy rainfall that could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano.
The eruption of Lewotobi Laki Laki followed its eruption in November 2024 that killed nine people and injured dozens.
The Geology Agency recorded an avalanche of searing gas clouds mixed with rocks and lava travelling up to 5km down the slopes of the 1,584m mountain on Monday.
Drone observations showed lava filling the crater, indicating deep movement of magma that set off volcanic earthquakes. Volcanic materials, including hot thumb-size gravel, were thrown up to 8m from the crater.
Muhari said two airports in the cities of Maumere and Larantuka in East Nusa Tenggara province remained closed yesterday.
Dozens of flights to and from the resort island of Bali were delayed or cancelled, but airport spokesperson Ahmad Syaugi Shahab said the airport was running normally as monitoring showed the volcanic ash had not affected Bali’s airspace. — AP
