Fire and ash: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewing volcanic material during a major eruption. — AP
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, shooting volcanic ash 10km into the sky, the country’s volcanology agency said, forcing authorities to raise the alert system to its highest level.
Located in East Nusa Tenggara, the volcano erupted on Wednesday at 1.35am for around nine minutes, the Geological Agency said.
It erupted again on Wednesday morning at 9.21am, spewing ash 8km high for about three minutes.
Late on Tuesday, the agency raised its alert level to the highest point after recording “significant rising of the volcano’s activities” since Monday, its head, Muhammad Wafid, said.
“People living near the volcano should be aware of the potential volcanic mudflow if heavy rain occurs,” Wafid said, adding that people should clear a 6 to 7km area around the site.
Dozens of people living in villages nearest to the volcano were evacuated after the eruptions, according to the local disaster mitigation agency.
Most of the residents left their villages after Lewotobi Laki-laki’s last major eruption, which killed 10 people and damaged thousands of houses in November 2024.
The government has closed Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport, located in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara province, the airport operator said on social media.
The volcano last erupted in August. It also erupted in July, causing flight disruptions to and from the nearby resort island of Bali. — Reuters
