Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano Erupts in Indonesia, Sparks High Alert

South-central Indonesia is under high alert after a volcanic eruption on Tuesday afternoon. The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano on the island of Flores showed significant activity throughout the day leading up to the eventual eruption, allowing authorities to raise the local eruption alert to the highest level possible—a level four warning.

The alert encompasses a five-mile radius around the crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in Flores, Indonesia. This comes after the country's Geology Agency reported around 32,800 feet of thick clouds spewing from the volcano.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is a twin volcano in the southern part of the Indonesian islands. Typically showing around eight to 10 activities daily, the volcano's Tuesday eruption followed around 50 activities discovered in just two hours. No casualties were reported from Tuesday's eruption, which marks the second time that Indonesian authorities have put out a level four alert for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in the past month. A slightly smaller eruption occurred on May 18 with no casualties reported as well.

Residents living around the volcano and the surrounding zone are warned to be wary of heavy rainfall, which could cause lava to flow in rivers around the basin of the volcano. This volcano has been erupting more frequently since December 2023, most resulting in no fatalities or damage. However, one particularly large eruption that occurred in November 2024 took the lives of nine people as surrounding areas needed to evacuate.

Indonesia is located along the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Basin, a hotspot of volcanic activity that spans from California to Japan. The authorities' quick response and warning system have helped minimize casualties and damage in recent eruptions, but residents must remain vigilant and follow evacuation procedures if necessary.

As a reminder, it is essential for residents in the affected area to stay informed and follow all instructions from local authorities regarding evacuation procedures and safety measures.