A volcanic eruption in eastern Indonesia has claimed at least 10 lives, officials report.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Flores Island erupted just before midnight local time, as confirmed by Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMG).
According to PVMG spokesperson Hadi Wijaya, “fiery lava and rocks” struck villages within a 4-kilometer radius, damaging homes and causing fires.
Seven villages have been affected by the eruption, which spewed incandescent material into residential areas.
PVMG has since elevated the volcano’s alert status to the highest level, advising that a 7-kilometer radius around the crater should be evacuated.
“Evacuations began this morning, moving residents to safer villages about 20 kilometers away,” local official Heronimus Lamawuran told Reuters.
Eyewitness footage shared with BBC News shows people covered in volcanic ash, with rocks raining down and homes ablaze. The aftermath reveals widespread damage across scorched neighborhoods.
Indonesia’s disaster agency has warned of possible flash floods and lava flows in the coming days.
A state of emergency has been declared for 58 days, allowing central government aid for approximately 10,000 residents.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, part of a volcanic pair at Flores Island’s eastern end, has been intermittently erupting since last December, leading authorities to previously issue a 3-kilometer safety warning.
The ongoing volcanic activity has impacted the local economy, with displaced villagers sheltering in schools and farmers reporting ash damage to their cashew crops.
Situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Indonesia experiences significant seismic activity, with around 130 active volcanoes.
Despite the risks, many communities live near these volcanoes, drawn by the fertile soil ideal for farming.
Source-BBC
