A series of volcanic eruptions on the island of Flores in Indonesia has left at least 10 people dead, with several villages severely impacted.
The eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, which began around midnight on Monday, sent thick ash clouds soaring up to 6,500 feet into the air, causing widespread damage.
Villages near the volcano were blanketed with volcanic debris, destroying homes, including a Catholic convent in Hokeng village.
According to Firman Yosef, an official from the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post, volcanic materials were ejected as far as 3.7 miles from the crater, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
The National Disaster Management Agency reported that more than 10,000 people have been affected, with many taking refuge in relatives’ homes or schools designated as temporary shelters.
Rescuers continue to search for missing individuals, including a child, as recovery operations proceed within a 2.4-mile radius of the volcano’s crater.
The volcano’s alert level was raised to the highest level as eruptions became more frequent, and the exclusion zone around the volcano was extended to 4.3 miles.
Despite warnings, volcanic material continued to rain down on nearby communities, causing widespread panic.
Thousands of residents in Flores were forced to flee due to the eruption’s devastation.The head of the Saint Gabriel Foundation, Agusta Palma reported that nuns from a local convent had to flee as their building was engulfed in ash and debris. One nun was confirmed dead, and another is missing.
This eruption follows a similar event earlier in the year when approximately 6,500 people were evacuated due to volcanic activity.
While the damage from January’s eruption was minimal, the recent eruption has proven to be far more destructive.
Experts believe the eruption’s intensity was due to a buildup of pressure beneath the surface after magma became blocked in the crater.
Indonesia, home to over 120 active volcanoes, remains vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, as it lies along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.”
This eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is a reminder of the ongoing seismic activity in the region and the challenges of living in a country prone to natural disasters.