At Least 10 Dead as Indonesian Volcano Eruptions Destroy Homes
A series of eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the Indonesian island of Flores has claimed at least 10 lives, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency. On Monday night, the volcano released dense brown ash up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) high, impacting nearby villages and causing severe damage, including the destruction of a convent.
A building destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, on Flores Island, Indonesia, Nov. 4, 2024. BASARNAS - National Search and Rescue Agency/Anadolu/Getty
According to Firman Yosef from the Lewotobi monitoring post, volcanic material spread up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the crater, covering villages in debris and forcing evacuations. Search teams continue looking for victims, with all known casualties found within a 2.4-mile radius of the crater.
The eruption has affected over 10,000 residents across multiple districts. Many people have sought refuge with family members, while authorities prepare schools as temporary shelters. The volcano alert status has been raised to the highest level, extending the exclusion zone to 4.3 miles.
A nun in Hokeng village was killed, and another is missing. Villages like Hokeng saw houses covered in thick volcanic ash, with some buildings set ablaze by hot debris. Images shared on social media show homes buried in ash up to their rooftops.
Lewotobi Laki-Laki is one of two stratovolcanoes in East Nusa Tenggara’s Flores district, alongside its counterpart, Lewotobi Perempuan. In January, about 6,500 people were evacuated after an earlier eruption, which also led to the ongoing closure of Frans Xavier Seda airport due to volcanic activity.
Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geological Agency, noted a difference in eruption characteristics due to a blockage in the crater that had built up pressure since January. This is Indonesia’s second eruption in recent weeks; on October 27, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted, covering nearby villages in ash but causing no casualties.
With over 120 active volcanoes, Indonesia, an archipelago of 280 million people, frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
