Flores Island, Indonesia: At least 10 individuals have died following a series of volcanic eruptions in eastern Indonesia, which unleashed fireballs and ash on nearby villages, resulting in the destruction of several homes.
The eruptions occurred at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a twin volcano that rises 1,703 meters (5,587 feet) on the popular tourist island of Flores, just after midnight.
In response to the increasing activity, authorities evacuated multiple villages and raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level, expanding the exclusion zone to a radius of 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) due to the frequency of the eruptions.
Abdul Muhari, spokesman of the country’s disaster mitigation agency BNPB, confirmed the death toll at a news conference, adding that 10,295 people had been affected by the eruptions. He said the number of evacuees was still being calculated.
The agency said at least 10,000 people were affected by the eruption in Wulanggitang district in the six nearby villages of Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru and Boru Kedang.
Several wooden homes have ignited, and the ground has been scarred with holes from flying molten rocks. The volcanology agency has issued warnings about the risk of rain-triggered lava floods and advised residents to wear masks to guard against volcanic ash.
The volcano experienced eruptions last week, with the most significant occurring, which released an ash column reaching 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the atmosphere. Major eruptions in January had already led to the evacuation of at least 2,000 residents.
Indonesia, an extensive archipelago, frequently faces volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” known for intense volcanic and seismic movements. Last December, an eruption from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra resulted in the deaths of at least 24 climbers, primarily university students.
Additionally, in May, heavy rains caused volcanic material from Marapi to flood residential areas, leading to over 60 fatalities and the destruction of homes. That same month, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi erupted multiple times, prompting mass evacuations of residents from nearby islands.
ALSO READ | Albanese promises better deals for students with loan reduction plan
