At least ten people have lost their lives after a twin volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores erupted late Monday, spewing fireballs and ash that destroyed several villages and homes.
Volcanic eruptions hit Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki at midnight on Monday after midnight. The twin volcano sits at 1,703 meters or 5,587 feet tall. Officials evacuated multiple villages in surrounding areas as the danger was rising.
At a news conference today, the disaster mitigation agency BNPB said the number of those killed has surpassed 10,295 from the eruptions, but the number of evacuees is unknown yet. Volcanology agencies raised the alert level to its highest level. They doubled the area restricted to a 7-kilometer radius of its original size due to intensified activities, as the agency said it had erupted intensely.
At least 10,000 individuals have been affected in the Wulanggitang district, which is located near the disaster area. Among them are Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru, and Boru Kedang.
Rescue teams were deployed to search for casualties at Klatanlo village. The people there expressed their terrifying experience when they claimed to have seen fireballs shoot from the crater. Hairdresser Hermanus Mite said that the volcano erupted while still sleeping, and he heard his bed shake twice: “It felt like the bed was slammed. That is when I realized there was a fire. Then I ran out. It was coming with flames, so I fled at once. Ashes and stones everywhere. My salon was also up in flames, and everything was lost.”
Footage of the scene depicts houses blanketed with thick ash, some engulfed by flames. An AFP journalist reported that five villages have been evacuated, forcing thousands to flee to safer grounds. The ground was littered with craters caused by flying molten rocks and set on fire structures made of wood. According to reports, the agency of volcanology has also warned about possible lava floods caused by rain. Residents have been advised to wear masks to protect against volcanic ash.
The eruptions follow an important event that happened last week. The volcano released a column of ash reaching 2,000 meters into the sky. Major eruptions occurred in the mountain this year in January when at least 2,000 residents were evacuated.
The country is on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which makes it prone to frequent volcanic activity because of its geological location. Last year, an eruption in Mount Marapi in West Sumatra killed at least 24 climbers, many of whom were university students.
In May, heavy rain washed volcanic material from Marapi into residential areas and killed more than 60 people. That month alone, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi erupted repeatedly, forcing thousands of people from nearby islands to leave their homes.
