The Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted late Sunday night on November 3, leading to the deaths of at least ten people. This prompted authorities to initiate the evacuation of over 16,000 inhabitants of nearby villages.
The volcanic blast propelled a dense brownish ash about 6,500 feet skyward, while volcanic debris reached a distance of up to 3.7 miles from the crater. The eruption led to power failures and was accompanied by heavy rainfall and lightning, creating fear among the locals in the impacted regions.
Sister Nikolin Padjo, a Catholic nun who served in Hokeng village, was among the casualties. Another nun was still unaccounted for, as reported by Agusta Palma, the director of the Saint Gabriel Foundation, which manages convents on the island. The eruption also caused damage to the San Dominggo Hokeng Middle Seminary and resulted in injuries to several seminarians.
By Tuesday morning, approximately 2,472 of the 16,086 residents from eight villages had been evacuated. The rescue efforts were hindered by the thick layer of volcanic ash blanketing the roads. The disaster resulted in damage to nearly 2,384 homes and at least 25 schools in the area.
Local official Heronimus Lamawuran verified that the eruption had impacted seven villages. The local government declared a 58-day state of emergency, permitting the central government to deliver aid to those affected.
The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation elevated the volcano’s status to the highest warning level and established a four-mile exclusion zone surrounding the crater. Four small airports on Flores Island, including the closest facility in Maumere, halted operations due to safety concerns.
Indonesia’s disaster agency warned about potential flash floods and cold lava flows in the forthcoming days. The country’s geology agency ascribed the eruption to pressure buildup caused by a magma blockage in the crater.
This eruption represents Indonesia’s second volcanic event in a fortnight, following the October 27 eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province. Indonesia, which hosts 120 active volcanoes, is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a hotspot of high seismic activity due to shifting tectonic plates.
Earlier this year, eruptions occurred at Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island and Ruang volcano in North Sulawesi, leading to widespread evacuations. In May, flash floods and cold lava flows from Mount Marapi caused more than 60 fatalities.
