Mass Evacuation in Indonesia After Volcano Erupts

Over 2,000 people in eastern Indonesia have been moved to temporary shelters due to increased volcanic activity at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara province. The volcano has erupted several times recently, including a significant eruption on Monday that sent ash 1.5 kilometers (4,800 feet) into the air, as reported by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

Another eruption occurred on Tuesday, although no ash clouds were observed from it, according to a PVMBG statement.

The volcanic ash from these eruptions has impacted two nearby sub-districts, leading to the evacuation of over 2,200 residents to shelters established by local authorities. Benediktus Bolibapa Herin, an official from East Flores district, informed AFP on Tuesday about the evacuees in the Wulanggitang and Ile Bura sub-districts. He mentioned that the number of evacuees might increase as more people leave the area for safety.

In response to the heightened volcanic activity, the authorities raised the alert level for Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki to the second-highest in Indonesia’s four-tier system on Monday and widened the exclusion zone around the crater from two to four kilometers (13,100 feet).

The volcanic ash also led to the closure of Frans Seda Airport, located over 80 kilometers away, since Monday, as per state news agency Antara.

Indonesia, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to volcanic and seismic activity. Last month, an eruption of Mount Marapi on Sumatra island resulted in 23 deaths. The country has nearly 130 active volcanoes.