Indonesia raises alert to highest level for Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts, spewing volcanic ash, as seen from Nobo village in East Flores. PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA - Indonesia raised the alert level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to the highest after it erupted eight times over the weekend, its volcanology agency has said.
Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores island in eastern Indonesia, spewed volcanic ash between 3km to 5.5km high on May 18, Mr Muhammad Wafid, the agency's head said in a statement late on May 18.
"Our analysis showed that the activities of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki are still high so we raised the status level starting on Sunday at 8pm," he said.
Images shared by the agency showed clouds of thick grey ash billowing from the crater.
Rumbling noises with low to high intensity were heard from the nearest monitoring post during the eruption, Mr Wafid added.
On the morning of May 19, the volcano erupted again, belching 1.2km high ash clouds.
The agency said a 6km radius from the crater must be cleared and warned the residents of the risk of cold lava flow from the crater once heavy rains took place.
There has not been any evacuation of residents or flight cancellations due to the eruptions so far, said Mr Heronimus Lamawuran, a local government official.
In March, an eruption at Lewotobi Laki-laki forced some airlines to cancel and delay flights into Bali, including Australia's Jetstar and Qantas Airways.
At least nine people were killed and thousands were evacuated when the volcano erupted in November 2024.
Indonesia sits on the "Pacific Ring of Fire", an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates. REUTERS
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