Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano Erupts in Indonesia, Sending Ash 10,000m into Sky
A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted on Tuesday, sending towering columns of hot ash into the sky. The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, occurred at 5:35 pm local time (10:35 pm GMT), unleashing a 10,000-metre-high thick grey mushroom cloud. According to the Indonesia’s Geology Agency, the height of the eruption column was observed at approximately 10,000 metres above the summit, with the ash column being observed to be grey with thick intensity. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The eruption of the 1,584-metre-high volcano could be seen from cities up to 90 miles away. Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703-metre volcano Perempuan, named after the Indonesian word for woman. Muhammad Wafid, the head of the country’s geology agency, has warned residents and tourists to avoid travelling within four miles of the volcano’s crater. He also urged residents to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash, as heavy rain could lead to hazardous lahar floods – a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials – which could hit villages close to the mountain. In November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times, killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate as molten lava flowed through villages. The eruption also led to the cancellation of dozens of international flights to Bali. However, there have not yet been reports of flight disruptions for Tuesday’s eruption. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity because of its position along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines that encircles most of the Pacific Ocean. Stay informed with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
