Indonesian Volcano Erupts, Forces Evacuations And Flight Cancellations

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted again on Wednesday, spewing massive ash and smoke plumes that forced evacuations and flight cancellations, including to and from the resort island of Bali, Handrianus Belutowe and Edna Tarigan reported for the Associated Press (AP).

No casualties have been reported consequent to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki. I Photo: Antara News Agency

Multiple eruptions sent ash clouds up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) into the sky from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon.

One eruption on Tuesday afternoon produced thick gray clouds that soared to 10,000 meters (about 32,800 feet), forming a mushroom-shaped ash cloud visible from as far as 150 kilometers (nearly 93 miles) away.

Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level on Tuesday and expanded the danger zone to 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from the crater.

Officials also evacuated personnel from the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post, located 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the crater, to avoid falling volcanic debris. No casualties have been reported.

The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, located in the district of Flores Timur. The volcano has experienced multiple eruptions this year, with its danger level and exclusion zone revised several times.

A deadly eruption in November killed nine people and injured dozens. It also erupted in March.

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is home to 120 active volcanoes, making it prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.