At Least 9 Dead as Mount Lewotobi Erupts on Indonesia’s Flores Island
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a prominent active volcano located on the eastern Indonesian island of Flores, erupted early Monday, claiming at least nine lives, according to local authorities.
Avi Manggota Hallan, head of emergency response and logistics for East Flores district, reported that rescue operations are underway as search teams comb through the rubble of destroyed homes for potential survivors. “We are still conducting assessments, and there may be more casualties,” Hallan said in an interview with dpa.
The sudden eruption triggered widespread panic among residents, forcing many to flee as ash and volcanic debris descended on nearby villages. Authorities raised the alert level to its highest and ordered immediate evacuations within the danger zone.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) stated that Mount Lewotobi began showing signs of increased volcanic activity on Nov. 1. Over the past few days, eruptions intensified with significant seismic activity and towering ash plumes. As a precaution, a 7-kilometre exclusion zone has been established around the volcano.
The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected regions, set to remain in effect until Dec. 31, while emergency response efforts continue.
Indonesia, located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences volcanic eruptions and earthquakes due to its geological position.
