Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts again, sending massive ash plumes miles into the sky
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted for a second consecutive day early Saturday, sending volcanic ash and debris soaring up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky and covering nearby villages. No injuries were reported immediately.
The volcano had also erupted Friday evening, releasing ash clouds reaching 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and illuminating the night with glowing lava and lightning. Both eruptions occurred within a five-hour span.
Indonesia’s Geology Agency reported avalanches of hot gas, rocks, and lava rushing up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the mountain’s slopes. Drone footage revealed significant magma movement, triggering tremors detected by seismic monitors.
Volcanic fragments, including hot gravel the size of thumbs, were hurled as far as 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater, blanketing surrounding communities in thick ash. Authorities warned residents to remain alert for heavy rain, which could cause lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano.
Saturday’s eruption is among the largest in Indonesia since 2010, when Mount Merapi erupted on the populous island of Java, killing over 350 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.
The recent activity follows a major eruption on July 7 that disrupted dozens of flights at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport and covered roads and rice fields in mud and volcanic debris.
Lewotobi Laki Laki, standing 1,584 meters (5,197 feet) tall on the remote Flores island, has remained at the highest alert level since its June 18 eruption. The exclusion zone has been expanded to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius due to increasing volcanic activity.
Thousands of residents were permanently relocated after a series of eruptions last November claimed nine lives and destroyed thousands of homes.
Indonesia, home to more than 280 million people, lies along the “Ring of Fire,” a seismic hotspot with over 120 active volcanoes, making it prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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