Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted once more on Thursday, sending a towering column of ash and hot gases up to 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) into the sky, just three days after a deadly eruption killed at least nine people and left 64 others injured.
The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano, located on the island of Flores in Indonesia's remote east, released thick clouds of gray ash, a mixture of rock, lava, and gas, which spread as far as 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the crater. The eruption sent the local population and authorities scrambling as the country's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) issued new warnings of heightened volcanic activity.
The most recent eruption comes on the heels of a deadly midnight blast on Monday, which devastated the surrounding communities. That eruption caused widespread destruction in at least 10 villages, affecting more than 10,000 people. Thousands of residents fled their homes, seeking refuge in temporary shelters. At least 7 schools, nearly two dozen houses, and a convent were destroyed in the eruption, which also severely disrupted the lives of the majority-Catholic island’s population.
In response to the ongoing threat, Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency raised the alert status for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki to the highest level, expanding the exclusion zone to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius. This means that authorities have prohibited all activity within this zone and are urging residents to avoid returning to their homes in the immediate aftermath.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) head Suharyanto, who uses a single name, emphasized that the evacuation effort is ongoing, with plans to relocate some 16,000 people from the danger zone to safer areas.
"Permanent relocation is now being considered as a long-term mitigation measure to prevent further loss of life and property in the event of future eruptions," Suharyanto said during a visit to the disaster zone on Thursday. He urged the public to adhere to evacuation guidelines and warned that further eruptions are likely.
As the situation continues to evolve, authorities are focused on both immediate relief efforts and long-term measures to protect the affected communities. The eruption highlights the persistent risks posed by Indonesia's volatile volcanic landscape, with over 130 active volcanoes scattered across the archipelago.