In a devastating eruption on Sunday, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano in eastern Indonesia unleashed massive lava plumes and fiery rocks, tragically claiming at least nine lives. The eruption prompted officials to begin evacuations from surrounding villages, as reported by Hadi Wijaya, spokesperson for the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Following the eruption, residents were plunged into chaos with power outages, heavy rain, and intense lightning, causing widespread fear. According to Wijaya, lava and burning rocks reached settlements up to four kilometers (about two miles) from the crater, damaging homes and infrastructure. In response, authorities raised the volcano’s alert to Level IV, the highest on Indonesia’s alert scale.
There have been reports of at least nine fatalities after an eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Flores Island
Indonesia 🇮🇩
November 3, 2024Several houses, including a convent of Catholic nuns, were burned down due to hot ash and pyroclastic bombs from the eruption.
🎥 :… pic.twitter.com/XYVCoteU2t
— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) November 4, 2024
🌋🇮🇩 Terrible situation in the southeast of Flores Island, Indonesia. The Lewotobi (Lakilaki) volcano erupted and launched powerful bombs of pyroclastic and volcanic ash towards nearby villages. Several houses caught fire and an intense rain of ash and gravel has forced residents… pic.twitter.com/HIUO8pi02T
— Weather monitor (@Weathermonitors) November 3, 2024
The PVMBG has advised a safety radius of seven kilometers (4.35 miles) around the volcano, and evacuations have been underway, moving residents to villages 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the danger zone. By Monday morning, the nearest villages were blanketed with thick volcanic ash, local official Heronimus Lamawuran confirmed.
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic eruptions and earthquakes due to its tectonic activity. The recent eruption is one in a string of volcanic events across the country. In May, Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island erupted, leading to evacuations from nearby villages, while flash floods and lava flows from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra left more than 60 dead after torrential rains.
As rescue operations continue, officials are closely monitoring Mount Lewotobi’s activity, with the hope of avoiding further casualties and destruction in this volatile region.
