Indonesians Flee as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts, Thousands Evacuated.
In a worrying turn of events, Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano has erupted, spewing a massive column of ash and prompting the government to consider permanent relocation for residents living in the surrounding areas.
The twin-peaked volcano, which stands at 1,703 meters (5,587 feet), has erupted eight times, leaving the authorities scrambling to ensure the safety of the local population. While there were no immediate reports of casualties, the ash plume was observed rising 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) from the peak, causing panic among the residents on the tourist island of Flores.
Officials have raised the alert for the volcano to the highest level, as a mixture of rock, lava, and gas was also thrown up to 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from its crater.
The authorities have already evacuated at least 5,816 of the more than 16,000 people living in the areas near the volcano to other villages, according to Heronimus Lamawuran, a spokesperson for the Flores regional government.
The new eruptions have prompted the authorities to warn the thousands of people who have fled not to return to their homes, as the government plans to move the remaining 16,000 residents out of the danger zone.
“Permanent relocation is considered as a long-term mitigation measure to anticipate eruption in the future,” said Suharyanto, the chief of the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), after visiting the devastated areas on Thursday.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 280 million people, is no stranger to seismic and volcanic activity, as it is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Earlier this month, Mount Merapi, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, also erupted in West Sumatra province.
The decision to permanently relocate thousands of residents underscores the gravity of the situation and the long-term implications of this volcanic activity.
