At least 10 people have died following a volcanic eruption in eastern Indonesia early on Monday, according to officials.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, situated on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted at 11:57 PM local time, as reported by the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMG).
Hadi Wijaya, a spokesperson for PVMG, indicated that molten lava and volcanic rocks impacted villages located about 4 kilometers (2 miles) from the crater, causing damage to and igniting residents’ homes.
Local officials noted that seven villages have been affected by the eruption.
In response, PVMG has raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level, advising that a 7-kilometer (4-mile) zone around the crater should be evacuated.
“We began evacuating residents this morning to other villages approximately 20 kilometers (13 miles) away from the crater,” local official Heronimus Lamawuran told Reuters.
Eyewitness videos shared with BBC News depict individuals covered in volcanic ash, falling rocks, and burning homes, showcasing the devastation caused by the eruption.
A spokesperson from Indonesia’s disaster agency warned of possible flash floods and cold lava flows in the upcoming days.
Additionally, the local government has declared a state of emergency for the next 58 days, enabling the central government to assist approximately 10,000 residents affected by the disaster.
Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for its high seismic activity due to the presence of multiple tectonic plates.
This eruption follows a series of volcanic activities in the area; in May, Mount Ibu on the island of Halmahera prompted the evacuation of seven villages.
