The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in south-central Indonesia has erupted three times as of Friday, sending an ash column 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) high. This has led authorities to expand the danger zone around the volcano. Information on evacuations is not yet available.
Located on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, the volcano has experienced numerous earthquakes and a notable increase in visible volcanic activity over the past seven days. The eruption alert has been raised to the highest level, and the danger zone has been extended from 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater.
In response to the eruption, several airlines have canceled flights between Australia and Indonesia’s tourist destination Bali. Additionally, other international and domestic flights to the island have been delayed. Residents have been cautioned to remain vigilant, as heavy rainfall could potentially trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano, as stated by Indonesia’s geology agency.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the Flores Timur district. Indonesia, an archipelago with a population of 270 million people, experiences frequent seismic activity. The country is home to 120 active volcanoes and is situated along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
