Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the tourist island of Flores, erupted for the eighth time on Thursday, sending a massive column of ash 2,500 meters into the sky and prompting panicked evacuations, Al Jazeera reports.
The eruption, which followed similar events on Monday and Tuesday, has led authorities to consider permanent relocation for residents living near the volcano.
The twin-peaked volcano, standing at 1,703 meters, has been placed on the highest alert level. Authorities reported a mixture of rock, lava, and gas being ejected up to 1 kilometer from the crater, adding to the danger.
While no casualties have been reported from Thursday’s eruption, Monday and Tuesday’s events tragically resulted in at least 10 deaths. Following these initial eruptions, a 7-kilometer exclusion zone was established, forcing residents to evacuate. However, Thursday’s eruption has prompted further evacuations, with residents fleeing their homes in nearby villages.
At least 5,816 of the more than 16,000 people living near the volcano have been evacuated to other villages, according to Heronimus Lamawuran, a spokesperson for the Flores regional government. Authorities are now urging the thousands who fled not to return, with plans underway to relocate the remaining residents out of the danger zone.
Laki-Laki, which translates to “man” in Indonesian, is paired with a calmer volcano named after the Indonesian word for “woman.” Both volcanoes are part of Indonesia’s 120 active volcanoes, a reflection of the nation’s position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location along this tectonically active region. Just last month, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, also erupted on October 27th.
